Sky-High Deductibles Broke the U.S. Health Insurance System

Skin-in-the-game isn't working. Average deductibles for employer health plans tripled, and most patients can't afford to do anything except forgo care and treatment. @business https://t.co/E8ijQ5yEQT

— Atul Gawande (@Atul_Gawande) June 27, 2018

(E)mbrace the “health care wars”—because with the help of the Trump administration and free-market state lawmakers across the country, consumers have more options now than at any time since Obamacare was first imposed.

Sarah Lee - We Should Welcome the ‘Health Care Wars’ https://t.co/ODEpleWUEz

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 14, 2018

...as the histrionics over who is to blame for today’s rising health care costs has already begun. Democrats blame Republicans for effectively getting rid of Obamacare because insurers are threatening higher premiums, but Republicans have the better argument because premiums and deductibles were rising before Obamacare started its death spiral.

As of yet, there aren’t hard and fast solutions to these problems, but there are good reasons for Americans to feel hopeful about health insurance again. They need only look in the right place. And that place is much closer to home than Washington, DC.

Reporters are doing their best to convince Americans health care should be the primary issuein the 2018 midterm elections and that Trump and Republicans deserve the blame for the system’s current woes, but many average Americans desperately looking for inexpensive health insurance should stop looking to the federal government for answers and start examining what the legislators in their own state are doing to make health care more affordable. Many states are now introducing numerous cost-saving innovations and utilizing market forces to improve health care access.

Today President Trump signs S. 204, the “Right to Try Act” which gives terminally ill patients the ability to seek trial drugs

.@realDonaldTrump: this law gives terminally ill patients the #RightToTry experimental lifesaving treatments. For many years, patients, advocates, and lawmakers fought for this freedom. pic.twitter.com/bGTrhfhTXV

— Right To Try (@_RightToTry) May 30, 2018

President Trump is signing the "Right to Try" act, which gives terminally ill patients the right to seek drug treatments that remain in clinical trials but have not been fully approved by the FDA https://t.co/HUPSbU6A9u

Watch on Facebook: https://t.co/0qkrzdr6WG pic.twitter.com/XIGcfHRrDU

— CNN (@CNN) May 30, 2018

Pres says he "never understood" why it took so long to pass the "Right To Try Act." Says "it's such a great name" for a bill. pic.twitter.com/RYmhfPQtqV

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 30, 2018

WATCH LIVE: Trump speaks at signing ceremony for bill increasing access to experimental treatments https://t.co/MTwXEo1nz0 pic.twitter.com/48YCJHUjVk

— The Hill (@thehill) May 30, 2018

WATCH: President Trump to sign "Right to Try" Act, which gives terminally ill patients the ability to seek trial drugs https://t.co/ME53PwZyJC pic.twitter.com/ddQkLnIMnB

— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 30, 2018

Today President Trump signs S. 204, the “Right to Try Act” - watch live: https://t.co/EmsdctGWtd pic.twitter.com/NWzQYfyBrb

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 30, 2018

My new @WashingtonPost column: Thank Republicans for your Right to Try https://t.co/PVJYlRoFmH

— Marc Thiessen (@marcthiessen) May 30, 2018

“The President’s signature today is a potentially life-saving one that delivers hope to tens of thousands of terminally-ill patients and their families.” Read our entire #RightToTry statement 👇https://t.co/KCAzIWx3C0 pic.twitter.com/Iln0PUwLGn

— AFP (@AFPhq) May 30, 2018

Pleased that #RightToTry was signed into law today. Remember Alfie Evans and Charlie Gard in the U.K.? Terminal patients should be allowed to pursue treatment. This is a life-affirming bill.

— Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) May 30, 2018

Parents’ rights are human rights. If we yield to the culture of death and the culture of expediency that permeate government-run health care systems around the world, no lives are safe.

Alfie and Haleigh and Charlie and Jahi
No lives are safe.
by: @michellemalkin
https://t.co/mKKFrbTCBJ

— Conservative Review (@CR) April 25, 2018

Baby Alfie's tragic situation reminds me of two other high-profile cases: Terri Schiavo and Baby Joseph. Please read my op-ed in Fox News. https://t.co/NpoffNjV1P #BabyAlfie #AlfiesArmy #alfiesfight

— Fr. Frank Pavone (@frfrankpavone) April 25, 2018

With the #AlfieEvans decision today, the developed secular West comes to a moral crossroads. Do we have the moral will to resist the horrific ableism of our medical and legal institutions? My piece for @firstthingsmag https://t.co/RucHnxD40W

— Charlie Camosy (@CCamosy) April 25, 2018

Piazza San Pietro, ora. Veglia per #AlfieEvans #AlfiesArmy pic.twitter.com/YUnCHPwWsJ

— Luca Lagana (@LucaLagana) April 25, 2018

Polish response and massive support for Little Warrior #AlfieEvans is really impressive. People are praying, signing petitions, constantly putting pressure on authorities to SAVE #Alfie. Despite all the court's shameful decisions#ProLife @Alfiesarmy16 https://t.co/XQLmT3P1ox

— Karol Darmoros (@KarolDarmoros) April 25, 2018

An important message from @MichelleMalkin about #AlfieEvans

Alfie's life matters.
We cannot let the state usurp human rights and arbitrarily choose which lives they think should matter.
This is government-sanctioned murder.#LetAlfieLive #AlfiesArmyhttps://t.co/dYkVdrKIHH pic.twitter.com/LEQATWb5mr

— CRTV (@CRTV) April 24, 2018

Where is the left on the #AlfieEvans atrocity? When statism flexes its muscles in a show of power and force, the left is always conspicuously silent.

The fact that Alfie Evans isn't trending either means Twitter is suppressing it or most people really just don't care that a child is being legally starved to death. Neither explanation is encouraging.

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) April 24, 2018

#AlfieEvans has been denied nutrition at @AlderHey hospital where he is forcibly being held, against his parents wishes, who watch helplessly. This is not medicine, it’s murder. Nutrition is not medical treatment, it’s every child’s essential right. https://t.co/pffklfVhQj

— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 25, 2018

Alfie Evans is losing a fight with a U.K. death panel. Reminded that much of media claimed "death panel" rhetoric was incomprehensibly insane when opponents of nationalized health care raised the specter in U.S.

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) April 25, 2018

Where is the left on the #AlfieEvans atrocity? When statism flexes its muscles in a show of power and force, the left is always conspicuously silent.

— Kemberlee Kaye (@KemberleeKaye) April 25, 2018

At least let his parents take him home to die, for goodness sake. He’s THEIR little boy, nobody else’s. #AlfieEvans

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 24, 2018

Barrister for father tells court: “let’s not let him starve in a hospital ward...what kind of country are we becoming?” #AlfieEvans

— Dan Whitehead (@danwnews) April 25, 2018

Something people are missing: if U.K. allows Alfie Evans to get treatment outside UK he'll survive and lead a good life; this will utterly expose the complete breakdown of care & inability to function of U.K. NHS. That's why they'll let Alfie die just like they did Charlie Gard.

— NameRedacted7 (@NameRedacted7) April 25, 2018

Trump's Short-Term Health Plans Will Legalize Affordable Care

Trump's short-term health plans will give Americans access to affordable care. Here's why via @Forbes: https://t.co/Xc1ymLrYPI

— Sally Pipes (@sallypipes) March 18, 2018

...The Trump administration is preparing to offer Americans an affordable alternative to the high-cost coverage on Obamacare's exchanges by overturning one of the previous administration's most burdensome regulations.

On February 20, the Department of Health and Human Services released a proposed rule based on President Trump’s October 12, 2017, Executive Order that would allow insurers to sell "short-term" health plans that provide coverage for up to 364 days. The proposed rule is open for comment for 60 days. The measure would nullify an Obama administration directive issued in October 2016 that banned short-term plans lasting longer than three months....

Yes, It Was The 'Affordable' Care Act That Increased Premiums

Yes, It Was The 'Affordable' Care Act That Increased Premiums via @forbes https://t.co/kjL79VpBkt

— Mercedes Schlapp (@mercedesschlapp) March 22, 2017

Yes, It Was The 'Affordable' Care Act That Increased Premiums
🔗 https://t.co/vw6rNFCP7y #ObamaCare #healthcare pic.twitter.com/5qoH9RC6QK

— BrokenACA (@BrokenACA) March 5, 2018

MUST READ: Insanity reigns and we must dethrone it

Time to stand against obstructionist insurance company nonsense- real life insanity from the trenches https://t.co/s6Uf9F5K2V via @kksheld

— Kris Held,MD (@kksheld) March 14, 2018

Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, JPMorgan starting healthcare company

Amazon's new health care business could shake up industry after others have failedhttps://t.co/11DbYXE2pp pic.twitter.com/xHZCFsOgrx

— POLITICO (@politico) January 30, 2018

Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, JPMorgan starting healthcare company https://t.co/kIAgrnD6Bw pic.twitter.com/FoMqOtauia

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 30, 2018

Stock prices for many of the largest health care companies fell hard this morning following news that Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and Berkshire Hathaway would team up for a health care company. https://t.co/t3W9XS3ZBw

— Axios (@axios) January 30, 2018

The Court Ordered Killing of Charlie Gard

That a judge is to decide if #CharlieGard lives,or dies,is everything you need to know about the incredible dangers of govt-run healthcare.

— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) July 16, 2017

Terrible news: #CharlieGard can no longer recieve treatment after the courts delayed and delayed on rulings. Socialized medicine kills.

— The Trump Train (@The_Trump_Train) July 24, 2017

#CharlieGard #UK #State owns you
Parents forced to allow death
Reminder: 'The People are Subjects' 🇬🇧#Sickhttps://t.co/OSpImSxL9h

— Brian (@xtriadx) July 24, 2017

@iptuttle brilliant @NRO article on #CharlieGard. https://t.co/oSCriXCUhL

— Jacob Airey (@realJacobAirey) July 24, 2017

It's beyond disturbing how many liberals are completely unsympathetic, even elated, at the govt death sentence imposed on #CharlieGard.

— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) July 24, 2017

The U.K. took #CharlieGard hostage, prevented him from being treated, then, after he'd deteriorated, declared treatment futile. Unreal.

— Ian Tuttle (@iptuttle) July 24, 2017

Imagine a world where the government tells you want you can and can't do; your freedoms limited. Welcome to the democrat party.#CharlieGard

— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) July 24, 2017

It doesn't matter how good the doctors at GOSH are. The fact of the matter is gov't deprived the parents of their liberty.#CharlieGard

— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) July 24, 2017

Trump offers to help terminally ill baby in England

.@realDonaldTrump support for #CharlieGard just another reason why @POTUS has been extremely solid and popular with evangelicals pic.twitter.com/wGRs52rBYf

— David Brody (@TheBrodyFile) July 3, 2017

Trump offers to help terminally ill baby in England https://t.co/ktW9LCTurP pic.twitter.com/jp3fXXXOdK

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) July 3, 2017

When people who don't want insurance aren't forced to buy it any more, the media calls this "losing insurance"

Fact Check: No, the Republican Healthcare Bill Would Not Cause 23 Million People to "Lose" Insurance https://t.co/mU6ILMBTAq

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 25, 2017

When people who don't want insurance aren't forced to buy it any more, the media calls this "losing insurance" https://t.co/EHwZi8FWlt

— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) May 24, 2017

It's Failing: Obamacare Premiums on Federal Exchange Have Soared By 105 Percent Since 2013 https://t.co/LtelUU6FAP

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 25, 2017

How would you like a $200 billion tax increase?

The price tag on universal health care is in, and it’s bigger than California’s budget

Folks SB 562 is NOT the answer to improving Health Insurance in CA. Please spend the time to get educated about... https://t.co/esjyObzxxV

— Alan P Herman (@apherman) May 22, 2017

Universal health care would mean a $200B tax hike for Californians. Yes "B" for billion. https://t.co/V9en48JUpj #CAPolitics

— HJTA.org (@HJTA) May 22, 2017

It would cost $400 billion per year to remake California’s health insurance marketplace and create a publicly funded universal heath care system, according to a state financial analysis released Monday.

California would have to find an additional $200 billion per year, including in new tax revenues, to create a so-called “single-payer” system, the analysis by the Senate Appropriations committee found. The estimate assumes the state would retain the existing $200 billion in local, state and federal funding it currently receives to offset the total $400 billion price tag....

The price tag on a California single payer plan is in, and it’s bigger than the state budget https://t.co/uDir1RKZdk

— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) May 22, 2017

Single-payer proposal would cost more than the whole CA State Budget - which is already the largest in the nation. https://t.co/KmhkCP3GSX

— Tab Berg (@tabberg) May 22, 2017

Everyone will get paid in glitter and be allowed to ride unicorns to work. https://t.co/qZvvSiHYxF

— Jennifer Kent (@sacrunnergirl) May 22, 2017

ACTION ALERT! PLEASE CALL the Senate Appropriations Committee Members and ask them to VOTE NO on SB 562!

SB 562 (Lara, D)- Or universal, single-payer healthcare for California- is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee this upcoming Monday, May 22nd, at 11am.

Time to get to work! PLEASE CALL the Senate Appropriations Committee Members and ask them to VOTE NO on SB 562! By clicking on their names, you will be directed to their websites where you can email the members directly. OR you can call their Capitol office with the number provided.

Senate Appropriations Committee Members

◼ Senator Ricardo Lara (Chair)- D (916) 651-4033
◼ Senator Patricia Bates (Vice Chair)- R (916) 651-4036
◼ Senator Jim Beall- D (916) 651-4015
◼ Senator Steven Bradford- D (916) 651-4035
◼ Senator Jerry Hill- D (916) 651-4013
◼ Senator Jim Nielsen-R (916) 651-4004
◼ Senator Scott Wiener-D (916) 651-4011

This bill has no specified funding for providing healthcare for all 38 million Californians (including illegal immigrants). Instead, it states it will use a "robust funding mechanism". Californians cannot sustain another hefty tax burden after the Gas Tax was passed. This bill must be stopped!

Nurses heckle Democratic leader, threaten legislators over health care https://t.co/o48f8pqjPi

— The Sacramento Bee (@sacbee_news) May 20, 2017

Journalists drink too much, are bad at managing emotions, and operate at a lower level than average, according to a new study

STUDY: Journalist Brains Show Low Level of Executive Functioning... https://t.co/RJbZ7BRWJr

— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) May 19, 2017

Journalists' brains show a lower-than-average level of executive functioning, according to a new study, which means they have a below-average ability to regulate their emotions, suppress biases, solve complex problems, switch between tasks, and show creative and flexible thinking.

The study, led by Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and leadership coach, analysed 40 journalists from newspapers, magazines, broadcast, and online platforms over seven months. The participants took part in tests related to their lifestyle, health, and behaviour....

49% believe the #federal #government is responsible for making sure that all Americans have #healthcare

49% believe the #federal #government is responsible for making sure that all Americans have #healthcare. https://t.co/T1vuasBXV3 pic.twitter.com/8EwQMSvGuD

— Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) May 9, 2017

Can your family afford an extra $10,000 in taxes?

Can your family afford an extra $10,000/yr in taxes? #singlepayer #CAPolitics https://t.co/bUWnhUJPJR

— HJTA.org (@HJTA) May 7, 2017

Under a single-payer system, health care would be financed through taxing people to support a government-run program rather than through having them or their employers pay for private health insurance coverage. Doing that would require a massive tax increase on California families along with huge pay cuts for nurses, doctors and other health care professionals. And, it would spell the end of the employer-sponsored insurance that half the state relies on and values.

Here’s how 51 senators can reduce premiums: The secret to repealing ObamaCare’s regulations through reconciliation is buried in the Ryan bill.

Here’s how 51 senators can reduce premiums, writes @Avik https://t.co/8quGQMX9tb via @WSJOpinion

— Pradheep Shanker MD (@Neoavatara) March 24, 2017

As this week’s jousting between Speaker Paul Ryan and the Freedom Caucus makes clear, the Republican Party’s conservative and pragmatic wings don’t always agree. But there’s consensus on this: The American Health Care Act, the GOP’s bill to repeal and replace ObamaCare, doesn’t do enough to make insurance more affordable.

Here’s how Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Mark Meadows put it last week in this newspaper’s online edition: “First, we must lower insurance premiums. Nothing matters more. The current House bill would not achieve this, because it doesn’t repeal all of ObamaCare’s insurance mandates.”

The trouble is the Senate’s rules. Republican leaders are counting on passing the AHCA through the budget reconciliation process, which requires only 51 votes, bypassing a filibuster. But for a bill to go through reconciliation, every provision must be budget-related, with clear relevance to either taxing or spending. GOP leaders expect the Senate parliamentarian to rule that repealing ObamaCare’s regulations through the AHCA would have only incidental fiscal consequences.

Ted Cruz exposed how millennials are defrauded by Obamacare

.@tedcruz exposed how millennials are defrauded by Obamacare [VIDEO] https://t.co/UESGSIGjG8 pic.twitter.com/vbvKSkSiLr

— Red Alert Politics (@RedAlert) February 8, 2017

Three things to expect from the Ted Cruz vs. Bernie Sanders healthcare debate tonight

Three things to expect from the Ted Cruz vs. Bernie Sanders healthcare debate tonight https://t.co/ozJ8GK0i7J by @BevHallberg pic.twitter.com/9uDN3yaBDp

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 7, 2017