Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

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 Similarly, 49 percent say the law should be repealed and 36 percent would let it stand.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

Amicus Brief Filed With Supreme Court: Department of Health and Human Services, et al., v. Florida, et al.

Reason Foundation joins brief challenging the health care mandate

February 16, 2012

Congress’ failure to consider such limitations resulted in a bill that exceeds the powers granted to Congress under the Constitution and severely infringes upon the individual liberty that the Constitution was designed to protect and promote. In such circumstances, this Court should not accord to the individual mandate the same “presumption of constitutionality” that it typically grants to congressional enactments in the first instance.

Taking Steps Towards Better Child Welfare Programs In Nebraska

The focus should be on the kids and outcomes, not reorganizing state agencies

February 8, 2012

Lisa Snell

The Nebraska legislature should move ahead with the hands-on child welfare recommendations rather than getting caught up yet again in agency reorganization which will ensure that the child welfare system remains in transition and chaos for some time without guaranteeing better outcomes. The immediate focus should be on reforms that will have the greatest impact on outcomes for children by both DHHS and the lead agencies.

Liberal Programs Deserve Blame for Income Inequality

The Congressional Budget Office documents income gains for everyone, not just the wealthy.

November 8, 2011

Shikha Dalmia

Liberals are treating a new Congressional Budget Office study showing that income inequality increased in America over the last three decades as the smoking gun they’d always been looking for—the ultimate indictment of America, capitalism, and apple pie.

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