Quotation of the Day
“Nothing is more permanent than a temporary program.” David Frum, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, as stated on Marketplace, 29 Oct 2008.
Author: Jason Shafrin
Health Care Expenditures in 2040
According to Health Affairs, the U.S. spent 16.0% of GDP on health expenditures in 2006. What will we be spending on health care in 2040? Robert Fogel takes a stab at answering this question. He claims that by 2040, the U.S. will spend 29% of GDP on health care in 2040. There are four…
Blogged.com likes the Healthcare Economist
The Healthcare Economist received a “Very Good” rating of 7.7 according to Blogged.com.
Is the newspaper dead? Christian Science Monitor: Exhibit A
The Christian Science Monitor has decided that from now on it will only be publishing online.
Apple donates $100,000 to support gay marriage…why?
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Apple has donated $100,000 for the No on Prop 8 campaign. Proposition 8 is a California referendum that aims to pass the “Marriage Protection Act” which would outlaw gay marriage. Apple may gain some customers who approve of gay marriage, but most people won’t buy a computer just because Apple…
UC San Diego Job Market Candidates
The UC San Diego Department of Economics has posted this year’s list of Job Market Candidates. Included in the list is your favorite healthcare economist, Jason Shafrin.
Cost to bring a drug to market: Is it really $802m?
In April 2006, I reviewed a well-known article which stated that the cost to bring a pharmaceutical to market was $802 million. This included the the cost R&D, clinical trials, failed drugs, and the cost of capial. The estimate was from DiMasi, Hansen and Grabowski (2003). The $802m figure was an updated from DiMasi, Hansen,…
Three Part Series on Health Insurance
The Los Angeles Times has a three part series looking at the health insurance market in the U.S. An eroding model for health insurance. Seeking distance from medical risk, insurers branch out into banking. Individual policies, often the only coverage available, are pricey and precarious.
McCain and the Tax Deductibility of Health Insurance
What are the tax implications of John McCain’s health care proposal? The key components are that health insurance will no longer be tax deductible but individuals will receive a $5000 credit of purchasing health insurance. Let’s work out some simple math to see how this will impact the life of a typical American. Example with…
Thoughts on individual mandates
Health insurance require that all individuals buy health insurance. Most voters views on an individual mandate depend on how you frame the question. If you ask voters: “Should everyone buy health insurance?” Most people will say yes. If you ask “Should the government compel all individuals to buy health insurance regardless of the cost?” Then…