Drew Altman

Drew Altman
attract bigger challenge change costs coverage despite economic economy employers expansion health help insurance longest million nine passing rather remains rising robust uninsured using
More than nine years into our longest economic expansion on record, more employers are now using health insurance coverage to attract and keep workers, and are absorbing rising costs rather than passing them on to their employees. But this may change if the economy cools down, and the bigger challenge that still remains is how to help the 44 million Americans who are uninsured despite the robust economy.
care health impact increase lots rate
There are lots of things on the table, but there's nothing that will have a significant impact on the rate of increase of health care costs.
care costs health temporary
There have been temporary successes, but always health care costs have bounced back with a vengeance.
bad care costs good health increase news rate
The good news is the rate of increase in health care costs is down, ... The bad news is that's the only good news.
achieved care fooled health history increase moderation rate seen temporary
Don't be fooled by the moderation we've seen this year. History has told us that when it comes to controlling health care costs, we've achieved some temporary successes, but the rate of increase always bounces back.
health slow
a slow but perceptible deterioration of our employer-based (health insurance) system.
call health slow
This is a slow but perceptible fraying of our employment-based system, ... what I call the drip, drip, drip (of health coverage).
call entirely experts health human impersonal mean nature numbers outcomes paperwork patients point quality talk talking
The point is that when they talk about quality of health care, patients mean something entirely different than experts do. They're not talking about numbers or outcomes but about their own human experience, which is a combination of cost, paperwork and what I'll call the hassle factor, the impersonal nature of the care.
coverage draining health hurt insurance steady workers
It is low-wage workers who are being hurt the most by the steady drip, drip, drip of coverage draining out of the employer-based health insurance system.
bear deals health looking mean risks share shift start system
We may be looking at the start of a fundamental shift in what we mean by health insurance, from a system where we share risks to one where it's up to individuals to make their own deals and bear their own risks.
health insurance paying protection seems trouble
If health insurance was working properly, the sicker you are, the more protection you would have. It seems to be working backwards, the sicker you are, the more trouble you have paying bills.
care cost families faster five health paying
The cost of health care is going up much faster than people's wages. Families are paying about (on average) $1,000 more now just for health care premiums than they were five years ago.
benefits business dropping far feared figure response widespread
The widespread dropping of drug benefits that some had feared has been averted so far as business figure out what their long-term response would be.
answering difficult mean time
Beneficiaries are having a difficult time answering the most important question: 'What does it mean for me?'