I’ve often complained that government-created third-party payer is the main problem with America’s healthcare system, and I was making that point well before Obamacare was imposed upon the country.
Simply stated, people won’t be smart consumers and providers won’t compete to keep costs low when the vast majority of expenses are paid for either by government programs or by insurance companies.
That’s why I want to see reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, not only to save money for taxpayers, but also because that’s one of the steps that is needed if we want market forces to bring down the cost of healthcare.
And I want to see a flat tax, not only for the pro-growth impact of lower tax rates, but also because it gets rid of the internal revenue code’s healthcare exclusion, thus ending the distortion that encourages over-insurance.
With all that in mind, I’m obviously a big fan of this new video from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity.
Narrated by Julie Borowski from FreedomWorks, the video explains that third-party payer has been a growing problem for decades and that it would have required fixing even if the Supreme Court hadn’t botched the Obamacare decision.
And now that we’re stuck with Obamacare, at least temporarily, it’s more important than ever to deal with this underlying problem.
P.S. This new video expands upon the analysis provided in a previous CF&P video.
P.P.S. Setting aside the debate about whether it’s right or wrong, the abortion market also is an interesting case study of how prices don’t rise when consumers pay out of pocket.
P.P.P.S. Government-created third-party payer also is screwing up the market for higher education.
[…] rising more rapidly in America. The bad news is that this is a reasonable assumption (thanks to our third-party payer problem). The good news is that we can easily solve the problem with a combination of entitlement reform […]
[…] rising more rapidly in America. The bad news is that this is a reasonable assumption (thanks to our third-party payer problem). The good news is that we can easily solve the problem with a combination of entitlement reform […]
[…] should be under the illusion that this will solve the myriad problems in the health sector. It would be a good start, but never forget that the third-party payer problem existed before […]
[…] More specifically, the so-called Cadillac tax on expensive employer-provided health plans will slightly reduce the distortion in the tax code that encourages over-insurance and exacerbates the healthcare system’s pervasive third-party payer problem. […]
[…] More specifically, the so-called Cadillac tax on expensive employer-provided health plans will slightly reduce the distortion in the tax code that encourages over-insurance and exacerbates the healthcare system’s pervasive third-party payer problem. […]
[…] shared many videos (here, here, here, here, here, and here) explaining how government has made America’s health system expensive and inefficient. I […]
[…] Second, the CEA definitely is right about fringe benefits being an ever-larger share of total compensation (mostly driven by government intervention). […]
[…] won’t create a stable, market-driven healthcare system. Instead, we’d only be back to where we were in 2010 – a system where government would still be the dominant player and market forces would be almost […]
[…] won’t create a stable, market-driven healthcare system. Instead, we’d only be back to where we were in 2010 – a system where government would still be the dominant player and market forces would be […]
[…] This video, narrated by Julie Borowski for the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, looks at the Obamacare/third-party payer issue. […]
[…] My choice for under-appreciated libertarian would be Neal Boortz or Julie Borowski. […]
[…] should be under the illusion that this will solve the myriad problems in the health sector. It would be a good start, but never forget that the third-party payer problem existed before […]
[…] should be under the illusion that this will solve the myriad problems in the health sector. It would be a good start, but never forget that the third-party payer problem existed before […]
[…] should be under the illusion that this will solve the myriad problems in the health sector. It would be a good start, but never forget that the third-party payer problem existed before […]
[…] Nice, though remember that repealing Obamacare is just the first step if you want a genuine market-based healthcare sector. […]
[…] a video from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity that highlights how the healthcare exclusion is a major […]
[…] I’ve explained how it exacerbates the real problem in our healthcare system, which is government-caused third-party […]
[…] I’ve explained how it exacerbates the real problem in our healthcare system, which is government-caused third-party […]
[…] disgusted that we had politicians who decided in 2009 and 2010 to further screw up the healthcare system with […]
[…] disgusted that we had politicians who decided in 2009 and 2010 to further screw up the healthcare system with […]
[…] a video, produced by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, on the problem of third-party […]
[…] only real solution is to restore a free market. That means not only repealing Obamacare, but also addressing all the other programs and policies which have caused the third-party […]
[…] This video, narrated by Julie Borowski for the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, looks at the Obamacare/third-party payer issue. […]
[…] P.P.S. By the way, one of the reasons that Harvard professors are unhappy is because of the so-called Cadillac tax, which actually is one of the few parts of Obamacare that may have some positive effect since it’s designed to reduce over-insurance and mitigate the third-party payer problem. […]
[…] P.P.S. By the way, one of the reasons that Harvard professors are unhappy is because of the so-called Cadillac tax, which actually is one of the few parts of Obamacare that may have some positive effect since it’s designed to reduce over-insurance and mitigate the third-party payer problem. […]
[…] Obamacare is a cluster-you-know-what, but there are many other government programs and policies that cause inefficiency and high […]
[…] Obamacare is a cluster-you-know-what, but there are many other government programs and policies that cause inefficiency and high […]
[…] The law has been a disaster, both for the economy and for the Democratic Party. Not that we should be surprised. You don’t get better healthcare with a poisonous recipe of higher taxes, added government spending, and more intervention. […]
[…] The law has been a disaster, both for the economy and for the Democratic Party. Not that we should be surprised. You don’t get better healthcare with a poisonous recipe of higher taxes, added government spending, and more intervention. […]
[…] If you want to understand what needs to happen, I encourage you to watch two short videos, one from Reason TV and the other from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity. […]
[…] why reformers need to advocate the types of policies that would undo decades of intervention and re-introduce market forces to the healthcare […]
[…] why reformers need to advocate the types of policies that would undo decades of intervention and re-introduce market forces to the healthcare […]
[…] by adding even more government. And even though Obamacare has discredited big government and opened the door to real reform, we can’t dismiss the possibility that the law will survive and created more […]
[…] But the goal isn’t simply to repeal the President’s bad policy. That merely gets us back to where we were in 2009. We need to figure out how to restore market forces to healthcare, and that means undoing decades of misguided government intervention. […]
[…] But the goal isn’t simply to repeal the President’s bad policy. That merely gets us back to where we were in 2009. We need to figure out how to restore market forces to healthcare, and that means undoing decades of misguided government intervention. […]
[…] the one common thread is that third-party payer facilitates problems, whether we’re looking at excessive costs, health inefficiency, or […]
[…] not just our chance to repeal Obamacare. We may actually have a chance to deal with the larger government-caused problems in our healthcare system, all of which lead to third-party payer and undermine the efficiency and low costs that exist when […]
[…] also is capped, which would be a nice step on the long – but important – task of dealing with the third-party payer crisis in the healthcare […]
[…] When I talk about people being “screwed” by Obamacare, I’m generally referring to taxpayers who will bear a heavier fiscal burden and consumers who will pay more to get less. […]
[…] not just our chance to repeal Obamacare. We may actually have a chance to deal with the larger government-caused problems in our healthcare system, all of which lead to third-party payer and undermine the efficiency and low costs that exist when […]
[…] Obama was elected. As such, repealing Obamacare – while the right thing to do – is just one of many things that need to happen to restore a competitive and efficient healthcare […]
[…] one explaining the need to deal with the government-caused third-party-payer […]
[…] I’ve explained how it exacerbates the real problem in our healthcare […]
[…] that extra money by eliminating distortions such as the state and local tax deduction or the healthcare exclusion. Compared to raising marginal tax rates, those are much-preferred ways of generating more revenue. […]
[…] So they are baffled when I tell them that nearly one-half of all health expenditures in America are directly financed by taxpayers and that the supposedly private part of our healthcare system is massively distorted by government interference and intervention. […]
[…] In other words, it would be great to repeal Obamacare, but fixing the healthcare system requires far more sweeping reform. […]
[…] So they are baffled when I tell them that nearly one-half of all health expenditures in America are directly financed by taxpayers and that the supposedly private part of our healthcare system is massively distorted by government interference and intervention. […]
[…] frequently argued that “third-party payer” is the main problem with the healthcare system. In simpler terms, this is the notion that a market won’t function […]
[…] also is capped, which would be a nice step on the long – but important – task of dealing with the third-party payer crisis in the healthcare […]
[…] If you want to understand what needs to happen, I encourage you to watch two short videos, one from Reason TV and the other from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity. […]
[…] If you want to understand what needs to happen, I encourage you to watch two short videos, one from Reason TV and the other from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity. […]
[…] If you want to understand what needs to happen, I encourage you to watch two short videos, one from Reason TV and the other from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity. […]
[…] and a very powerful video to help explain how government subsidies in health care have created a third-party payer problem that has resulted in rapidly rising prices and considerable inefficiency in that […]
[…] rising more rapidly in America. The bad news is that this is a reasonable assumption (thanks to our third-party payer problem). The good news is that we can easily solve the problem with a combination of entitlement reform […]
[…] is a principal cause (along with failed entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid) of the third-party payer crisis. Shifting to a flat tax means that all forms of employee compensation are taxed at the same low […]
[…] rising more rapidly in America. The bad news is that this is a reasonable assumption (thanks to our third-party payer problem). The good news is that we can easily solve the problem with a combination of entitlement reform […]
[…] that extra money by eliminating distortions such as the state and local tax deduction or the healthcare exclusion. Compared to raising marginal tax rates, those are much-preferred ways of generating more revenue. […]
[…] that extra money by eliminating distortions such as the state and local tax deduction or the healthcare exclusion. Compared to raising marginal tax rates, those are much-preferred ways of generating more revenue. […]
[…] and a very powerful video to help explain how government subsidies in health care have created a third-party payer problem that has resulted in rapidly rising prices and considerable inefficiency in that […]
[…] is a principal cause (along with failed entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid) of the third-party payer crisis. Shifting to a flat tax means that all forms of employee compensation are taxed at the same low […]
[…] So they are baffled when I tell them that nearly one-half of all health expenditures in America are directly financed by taxpayers and that the supposedly private part of our healthcare system is massively distorted by government interference and intervention. […]
Another great article and video from you Dan!!!
[…] Repealing Obamacare Won’t Solve the Healthcare Mess (but It’s a Good Start) […]
[…] policies that have prevented markets from operating in the healthcare sector. That’s not my view, so I’m merely saying Godwin has a legitimate point, not that he’s […]
[…] of the American healthcare system. It suffers from huge inefficiencies because of problems such as third-party payer, which is caused by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid along with a system of tax […]
[…] of the American healthcare system. It suffers from huge inefficiencies because of problems such as third-party payer, which is caused by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid along with a system of tax […]
[…] of the American healthcare system. It suffers from huge inefficiencies because of problems such as third-party payer, which is caused by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid along with a system of tax […]
[…] of the American healthcare system. It suffers from huge inefficiencies because of problems such as third-party payer, which is caused by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid along with a system of tax […]
[…] of the American healthcare system. It suffers from huge inefficiencies because of problems such as third-party payer, which is caused by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid along with a system of tax […]
[…] of the American healthcare system. It suffers from huge inefficiencies because of problems such as third-party payer, which is caused by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid along with a system of tax […]
[…] Repealing Obamacare Won’t Solve the Healthcare Mess (but It’s a Good Start) […]
[…] capped, which would be a nice step on the long – but important – task of dealing with the third-party payer crisis in the healthcare […]
[…] rising more rapidly in America. The bad news is that this is a reasonable assumption (thanks to our third-party payer problem). The good news is that we can easily solve the problem with a combination of entitlement reform […]
[…] rising more rapidly in America. The bad news is that this is a reasonable assumption (thanks to our third-party payer problem). The good news is that we can easily solve the problem with a combination of entitlement reform […]
[…] back to monetary policy, here’s Julie Borowski’s Fed-bashing video (she also narrated this video on the third-party payer problem), and here’s the famous “Ben Bernank” video. Rate this:Share […]
[…] rising more rapidly in America. The bad news is that this is a reasonable assumption (thanks to our third-party payer problem). The good news is that we can easily solve the problem with a combination of entitlement reform […]
[…] stated, the main healthcare problem in America is the third-party payer crisis. As explained in this video, markets are dysfunctional when government programs and other forms of intervention create a system […]
[…] is a principal cause (along with failed entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid) of the third-party payer crisis. Shifting to a flat tax means that all forms of employee compensation are taxed at the same low […]
[…] is a principal cause (along with failed entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid) of the third-party payer crisis. Shifting to a flat tax means that all forms of employee compensation are taxed at the same low […]
[…] And here’s more from Daniel Mitchell at Cato. […]
[…] Courtesy D Mitchell. […]
[…] Anyway, Dan sent an email to some bloggers recently to share a video about third-party payer systems and why health care costs continue to rise. Dan also wrote a great piece about the video here. […]
[…] won’t solve the real problems, according to Dan Mitchell of the Cato Institute. He says the real problem is third-party payment which developed because of employer-provided health insurance. Consumers have no incentive to be […]
[…] offers more detail here, and he recommends the video below from the Center for Freedom and […]
I take your point (or the point of the video) that 3rd party payers distort the health care market, but getting from here to there is not going to be an easy path because even if we had a totally free market in health care, with no 3rd party payments, the median family income is about $50,000 a year; an income that is too low to deal with a major medical condition even with a high deductible insurance plan.
At least for the foreseeable future, 3rd party payers are here to stay. The trick is to have them mimic a free market in healthcare as closely as possible.
[…] Here’s what I wrote on the issue. […]
[…] care in America, and how Obamacare will only make it all worse. As Daniel Mitchell pointed out, repealing Obamacare is just a good start in fixing the health care mess.google_ad_client = "ca-pub-1395656889568144"; /* 300×250, created 8/11/08 */ google_ad_slot = […]
Interesting take! I gave you a RT. It’s certainly true that the third party payer system removes market forces that would typically keep prices low. If the health insurance just agreed to split everything 50-50 up to $XXX and then they’d cover everything else it would make a lot more sense. With fixed copays, deducibles, coinsurance, etc. it is a big mess.
Why do you think Obamacare is “a good start”?
Mr. Mitchell:
The place for the video is black – no image and no “play” button.
Tech problem on my end or yours?
Thank you
[…] you’d like to learn more about this portion of the problem take a few moments and view this video from Center for Freedom and […]