The post discusses the unsustainable trajectory of federal spending, particularly due to Medicare's projected $8 trillion addition to federal debt over the next decade. It emphasizes the complexity of Medicare reforms, highlightin...
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Tom Church is a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution focusing on health care policy, entitlement reform, poverty, and the federal budget.
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A survey of 1,775 Americans reveals a significant lack of knowledge about the federal budget and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Key findings include that 75% believe federal debt is growing unsustainably, and only 11% could ans...
The policy brief discusses how to increase the number of Affordable Care Act (ACA) enrollees eligible for health savings accounts (HSAs). Currently, many high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) on ACA exchanges do not qualify for HSA...
The post discusses the dangers of political partisanship, emphasizing the importance of adhering to personal principles rather than aligning with political parties or figures. It critiques how individuals often ignore their belief...
Fixing health care in America requires identifying specific areas of the system and understanding the government's role in subsidies, taxes, and regulations.
The post argues that the mere possibility of negative consequences should not be a reason to oppose policy changes. It discusses various examples, such as housing market regulations, port automation, tariffs, and education reforms...
The One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is projected to increase non-interest deficits by over $3.4 trillion, with significant reforms to Medicaid expected to reduce spending by $910 billion over the next decade. Despite these 'cu...
The blog post discusses President Trump's recent announcement of 'reciprocal' tariffs on nearly all countries, highlighting discrepancies between the announced tariffs and actual rates based on trade imbalances. It questions the a...
The blog post discusses the feasibility of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget. It breaks down the $7 trillion FY2025 budget, explores potential areas for cuts, including for...
The post discusses the impending expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) at the end of 2025, outlining key changes in tax brackets, standard deductions, child tax credits, and other tax provisions. It highlights the financi...
The post discusses the importance of re-evaluating policy solutions by focusing on what systems actually achieve rather than their stated intentions. It critiques common approaches to issues like housing affordability and national...
The blog post discusses ten health policies that should be adopted in 2025, focusing on changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid. Key proposals include allowing temporary premium tax credits to expire, making high-ded...
The blog post discusses the ongoing reconciliation bill in Congress, highlighting key differences between the House and Senate versions. It covers the implications of tax cuts, spending cuts, and Medicaid reforms, including the Me...
The federal budget is facing unsustainable growth in deficits and debt, primarily driven by rising healthcare costs, particularly Medicare. Federal debt has increased significantly, and while tax revenues remain stable, spending i...
A proposal to allow Medi-Cal enrollees to use part of their payments for Direct Primary Care memberships aims to enhance access to primary care without increasing costs.
The GOP faces a decision on whether to negotiate with Senate Democrats regarding the expiration of temporary COVID-era ACA subsidies at the end of 2025. Key considerations include the financial implications of extending these subs...
The post explores the reasons behind the high costs of health insurance, particularly focusing on the health of the risk pool and the comprehensive coverage provided by insurers. It presents thought experiments illustrating how pr...
The blog post features a discussion with Lawson Mansell from the Niskanen Center about the shortage of physicians in America, focusing on the limitations imposed by Medicare's Graduate Medical Education (GME) cap, which has frozen...
The post discusses the rising costs of health insurance premiums, which have increased by 6% annually over 26 years, outpacing wage growth. It questions the value of health insurance, suggesting that individuals might be better of...
The Senate has removed all provisions related to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) from its version of the reconciliation bill, which has sparked debate over the potential benefits and costs of HSAs. Proponents argue that HSAs encour...
The Ways and Means Committee has advanced the Trump tax bill to the House Budget Committee, highlighting two key provisions: expanding eligibility for health savings accounts (HSAs) to those purchasing bronze and catastrophic plan...
The blog post discusses the key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that are set to expire at the end of 2025. It covers various aspects such as personal income tax changes, the standard deduction, child tax credit, alt...
The final budget bill (OBBA) includes two significant healthcare provisions that allow millions of ACA enrollees with bronze or catastrophic insurance plans to contribute to health savings accounts (HSAs) starting in 2026. This ch...
The post discusses the significant decline in the number of ACA enrollees opting for HSA-eligible plans, dropping from 8% in 2014 to 2% in 2025, primarily due to differences in maximum-out-of-pocket limits. It suggests that if cur...