Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

State and Local Correctional Healthcare Privatization Update

Subsection of Annual Privatization Report 2013: Criminal Justice and Corrections

May 6, 2013

Harris Kenny

This subsection of Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2013: Criminal Justice and Corrections reviews the latest developments on correctional healthcare privatization at the state level.

The Real Causes of Rising Healthcare Costs

April 24, 2013, 5:23pm

Tom Clougherty

Where Swing States Stand in Implementing “ObamaCare” Exchanges

June 28, 2012, 4:20pm

Harris Kenny

This morning the U.S. Supreme court determined the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or “ObamaCare,” to be constitutional in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. One of the most significant aspects of President Obama’s healthcare reforms is the establishment of state-level health insurance exchanges. After today's ruling the exchanges will remain in place.

How Rising Health Costs Will Hurt the Economy

March 27, 2012, 11:48am

Anthony Randazzo

Beyond just government spending on health care increasing in the coming decades, which is a rather hot topic this week, private health care costs are set to grow at an increasingly exponential rate in the coming years. This is not necessarily something new, as we've had rising health care costs for decades now. But what is going to be a challenge for the economy is that economic prosperity trends America had in the 20th century were able to absorb these rising costs in a way we won't see in the next few years since those trends have flatlined.

Reason-Rupe Poll: Americans Don't Think Health Care or Broccoli Mandates Are Constitutional

March 26, 2012, 9:01am

As the Supreme Court hears challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act this week, a new Reason-Rupe poll of 1,200 adults finds 62 percent of Americans believe it is unconstitutional for Congress to mandate the purchase of health insurance, while 30 percent think requiring health insurance is constitutional.

Legal experts have suggested that if Congress has the power to require individuals to buy health care insurance, it may also mandate that Americans buy broccoli. The Reason-Rupe poll finds 87 percent of Americans believe Congress does not have the power to require the purchase of broccoli, while 8 percent say Congress can force you to buy vegetables.

Reason-Rupe finds 54 percent of Americans think the health care law will result in the rationing of health care services. Half of Americans have an unfavorable view of the health care law, while 32 percent have a favorable view of it. Similarly, 49 percent say the law should be repealed and 36 percent would let it stand.

When it comes to addressing their health care needs, just 23 percent of Americans trust the government. That’s less than half of the 50 percent who say they trust health insurance companies and considerably lower than the 84 percent who trust their doctors.

The Reason-Rupe poll results reveal some health care reforms that the American public would support. Over two-thirds, 69 percent, of Americans would like to be able to shop for health insurance in the same way they shop for auto insurance. And many are willing to move away from our existing system to do so: 48 percent of Americans would prefer to receive the money their employers spend on health care as part of their paycheck and then shop for their own health care plans. Forty-one percent would like to continue to get insurance through their employer.

This is No Time to Go Soft on Medicaid Fraud

March 19, 2012, 8:38pm

Adrian Moore

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