Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute told Talk Radio News Tuesday that if Conservative voters are as energized in 2010 and if Independents choose to swing to the right, then Democrats will be in trouble in the 2010 mid-term elections. (0:29)
Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute told Talk Radio News Tuesday that Virginia’s gubernatorial race and New York’s 23rd district will almost certainly be won by Republican, but that the gubernatorial race in New Jersey is much closer. (0:22)
Cato Institute Analyst Michael Tanner evaluates Robert F. McDonnell’s (R-Va.) lead in the polls for governor, saying that not only did McDonnell run a good campaign, but Virginians are more conservative on economic issues. (0:31)
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Michael Tanner argues that health care reform must involve targeted actions or it will not help the people who need it the most. Tanner says it is better to focus on people who cannot afford health insurance, rather than create a program that tries to insure everyone. (0:30)
Cato Institute Senior Fellow Michael Tanner calls on Congress to not rush health care reform in order to produce reform that will work. Tanner argues that gathering more information and removing some of the emotion that is involved within the debate will lead to better analysis and more effective solutions. (0:30)
By Laura Woodhead – Talk Radio News Service
Lacking insurance is often voluntary and does not cause poor health, economics and health experts said Monday. Speaking at a forum held by Cato Institute, the panel argued that the often quoted number of 47 million grossly overestimates the problem of those who cannot afford health insurance in the United States.
Micheal Tanner, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, argued that it was important not to focus on “hard cases” when it comes to making health care policy. He explained that many uninsured Americans choose to be so voluntarily, and estimated that only about 5 million Americans fall into the category of being involuntarily uninsured for 2 years or more.
“You always get this impression that the uninsured is composed of people who are middle class, working two jobs, have seven kids all of whom are handicapped and suddenly they both lost their jobs and both lost their health insurance, will never see it again and will probably die in the next few months. The reality is vastly different,” Tanner said, adding that many people choose not to have health insurance even though they can afford it.
Former Congressional Budget Office Direcrtor Dr. June O’Neill said it was important to look at factors besides lack of health care that contribute to health issues. O’Neill said that if you compare the mortality rates of those with health insurance to those that are involuntarily uninsured, those with health insurance live longer. However, O’Neill argued that variables such as smoking, obesity and income contribute more to this statistic then does a lack of insurance.
“When one hears about how lack of insurance causes death, you might think about all the other things that we could do to help people improve their health” she said.
Echoing this sentiment, Tanner said that there was no evidence to suggest that giving people health insurance will make them healthier.
“We tend to equate in this debate the idea that health insurance equals health care which equals health.” Tanner said. “We can think of a lot more things that would have a greater impact on the health of the nation than providing health insurance.”
“We need to take a deep breath, step back and try to get this right rather than get it through quickly,” he said.
Michael Tanner, CATO Institute’s Head of Health Care and Social Security Research, says that if Congress taxed all Americans’ employer provided health insurance, it would 2.3 trillion over the next decade, but that it would not be likely and could promote a “tax revolt” (0:24)
Michael Tanner, CATO Institute’s Head of Health Care and Social Security Research, speaks about the current draft of health reform legislation, including the House of Representatives’ proposed payroll tax hike and how the legislation may cost over $3 trillion. (0:49)
By Aaron Richardson-Talk Radio News Service
Michael Tanner, CATO’s Head of Health Care and Social Security Research is unhappy with the most recent draft of the bill that will eventually pave the way for health care reform in the U.S.
During a discussion today on Capitol Hill, Tanner voiced his opposition to many of the bills provisions such as: tax on employer provided insurance, a payroll tax hike, a income tax surcharge on people who make 250,000 dollars or more and the proposed soda and beer tax.
According to Tanner, those with less income will be specifically harmed by the beer and soda tax since those in that demographic tend to purchase these products with more frequency.
CATO’s Director for Health Policy Michael Cannon, who appeared alongside Tanner, suggested letting employees choose their insurance providers instead of employers. Cannon noted that this would result in higher salaries for workers.
“The $620 billion in employer premium contributions does not come out of the employers’ pockets, it is actually from workers’ wages,” said Cannon.
“If the employers weren’t providing health benefits to those workers the employers would have to return that $4,000 or $9,000 dollars back to those workers and add it to their salaries” added Cannon.
Michael Tanner, senior fellow of the Cato Institute, says people in Massachusetts who had health insurance and were happy with it are having to change their coverage because their current plan does not comply with the state’s mandates. It is just one example of the lessons he believes the federal government should take from the results of Massachusetts’ 2006 health care reforms. (0:23)
