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Issues Domestic Health Care

Why the Savings from Health Care Reform Are Underappreciated

The lack of a whole-hearted, landslide, public embrace of health reform is surprising considering that unless your family earns over $250,000, reform costs you nothing and, the president's health care plan, if enacted, is estimated to increase the income of the average family of four by about $10,000 in 2030.

One part of the explanation for public reluctance to embrace reform may be explained by behavioral economics. Behavioral economists have found that people in most situations:

  • Undervalue future money and overvalue money now
  • Focus on losses over gains
  • Prefer the status quo over change

How does this play out in health care? Let's consider each of these behavioral factors in turn.

Read more here.

This article was originally published in The Huffington Post.

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