Drew Altman

The positive drum beat has caught up with the negative one. But on an individual basis, most seniors still can't read more

The positive drum beat has caught up with the negative one. But on an individual basis, most seniors still can't answer the big question: 'What does it mean for me?

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 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.

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.

It is low-wage workers who are being hurt the most by the steady drip, drip, drip of coverage draining out read more

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.