Carolyn Johnson wrote a recent piece for the Washington Post in which she claimed that the $69 billion purchase of Aetna by CVS “could rein in health-care costs.” That may very well be true, but
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A BLOG by Kevin Wacasey, M.D.
Episode 1 – Introduction to Healthcareonomics I apologize about not writing these past few months, but I’ve found a new creative outlet on Twitter, where I must say it is great fun (not mention a
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This post explains how Texas educators can save money on health insurance. But each plan analyzed below has a high deductible, which means that patients are now consumers. It doesn’t take long to blow through
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The heat is on for Republicans in the Senate, who are caught between a rock and a very hard place, indeed. Given a mandate by their base to repeal and replace ObamaCare, their political futures
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Adapted from my upcoming book: Your Money AND Your Life, coming Fall 2017. In 1992, Dr. Kathryn Anastos was quoted as saying: “It is unconscionable that we ration health care by the ability to pay… Health
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‘TWAS the night before my colonoscopy And for more than a bit I’d had nothing to eat Not even a chip. Except to drink something awful That was bitter, yet sweet You see I’d gotten
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One day after the inauguration of President Trump, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an order: his administration is going to “require” health insurance companies to pick up the tab for birth control. In other words, no matter
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NOTE (revised as of December 17, 2017): I have recently been accused of spreading falsehoods with this post; in particular regarding my use of statistics as a fear-mongering tactic. That is not my intent at
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And I’ll say it…again. When it comes to health care – as in all other businesses – cash is King. Or at least it should be. And yet when it comes to health care, it
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THERE’S A NEW SHERIFF in town, and his name is Donald Trump. No matter what you may think of his history, attitude, or behavior, one thing is for sure – he’s a total political outsider
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Well, it’s November 1st, and you know what that means. It’s that time of the year again, when the so-called “Open Enrollment” period for buying next year’s health insurance plans begins. To celebrate, I thought
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The following is an excerpt from my book, The Guide to Buying Health Insurance, and Health Care. Available NOW on Amazon, iTunes & Nook. You can also use my new Dr. W’s Equation app to compare health insurance plans,
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This post concerns the 2016-2017 school year. For updated information on the 2017-2018 health insurance plans, check out my new post Texas Teachers & Health Insurance: A Look Back – At What’s To Come. Well, they’re
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Recently a fellow physician friend of mine wrote to let me know that the only thing wrong with my writing is my occasional use of foul-mouthed language. Now, I very much appreciate our friendship, and
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Poor Martin Shkreli. His last name aside (and I thought mine was bad), the former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals just cannot catch a break. These days everyone it seems – HIV patients, politicians, even a group of witches – have
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I was saddened to hear that one of my favorite Libertarians, the wonderful journalist John Stossel, has taken ill. True to form however, he’s taking it in stride (he nonchalantly quipped “seems I have lung
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It’s time that everyone have a stake in the health insurance game, and recipients of employer-funded programs are no exception. But it’s going to take a seismic shift in attitude from employees who enjoy such perks.
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The cover of the 2015 Scott & White Health HMO Plan’s Summary of Benefits asks ‘Who thinks school employees should get lower health insurance deductibles?’ To put it bluntly – not I. Please don’t think me cruel, but I
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Last month House Bill 767, that would have required electrocardiogram (ECG) screenings in Texas students participating in UIL athletic activities, was passed by the Texas House and sent to the Senate for consideration. Today, five Republican Senators from the Senate
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Last week, the Texas House of Representatives Public Education Committee voted unanimously to pass a bill requiring students to undergo EKG screenings before participating in UIL events, The bill leaves the burden of paying for the testing
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