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.
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.
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.
coming money obstacles pay
The two obstacles are fundamental disagreements on how to do it and coming up with the money to pay the bill.
deal definitely good major problems solution
They (Bush's proposals) are potentially a good deal for many Americans. But they definitely are not the solution to the major problems we face.
bad faster good growth last lower news rate slightly three
There is some good news, I suppose. The rate of growth is slightly lower than last year. The bad news is that's the only good news, because premiums are still going up three times faster than wages.
answering difficult mean time
Beneficiaries are having a difficult time answering the most important question: 'What does it mean for me?'
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.
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).
deal good millions option people
This is an option that can be a real good deal for many, many millions of people, but it's not for everybody, least of all people who are chronically ill and low-income.
choices hard help seniors
Seniors still are having a hard time. Seniors still aren't really prepared, and they're going to need a lot of help to make the choices they need to make under the law.
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.