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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Healthcare, Insurance Companies and the Presidential Campaign

    The cost of healthcare is rising all over the world, but nowhere faster than in the United States, even though more spending does not mean better health. In five years, the cost of health insurance premiums rose 87% in the US, four times faster than the growth in wages.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    The cost of healthcare is rising all over the world, but nowhere faster than in the United States, even though more spending does not mean better health. In five years, the cost of health insurance premiums rose 87% in the US, four times faster than the growth in wages. Law enforcement officials in New York and California are investigating claims that insurance companies rig what they pay providers and dump patients after they get sick. But insurance, which is 25% of the cost, isn't the only thing that's driving up costs. Will the broader coverage promised by political candidates lead to better results? Are doctors and their patients helping to drive up costs by demanding more healthcare than they really need?

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      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

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      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

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      Dan Konecky

      Producer, To the Point

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      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

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      Uwe Reinhardt

      Princeton University

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      Jon Kingsdale

      Executive Director, Commonwealth Connector

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      Shannon Brownlee

      New America Foundation

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