Drew Altman

There have been temporary successes, but always health care costs have bounced back with a vengeance.

There have been temporary successes, but always health care costs have bounced back with a vengeance.

The cost of health care is going up much faster than people's wages. Families are paying about (on average) $1,000 read more

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.

A substantial number of beneficiaries are already enrolled, but a lot turns on what those who are on the fence read more

A substantial number of beneficiaries are already enrolled, but a lot turns on what those who are on the fence decide to do between now and May 15. If they stay out for now, some could face financial penalties down the road if they later change their mind.

If health insurance was working properly, the sicker you are, the more protection you would have. It seems to be read more

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.

The point is that when they talk about quality of health care, patients mean something entirely different than experts do. read more

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.