The modern American health insurance system didn’t emerge because someone designed it thoughtfully, and it shows. It evolved from a series of political, economic, and cultural accidents beginning largely around the period of World War II. As with many political redistribution schemes, once underway, the system has snowballed into the unsustainable trajectory we see today.
My goal in writing this article is to explain how we got here, describe the present situation from the physician’s vantage point, and outline what must change to restore sanity to American healthcare. Continue reading
On December 5, 2025, the CDC’s ACIP committee voted 8-3 to end the automatic Hep B shot for every newborn. For the first time since 1991 hospitals can no longer treat every baby as if they were born to an infected mother.
Liz Moore’s son Bodin struggled from birth: feeding and sleeping problems, followed by developmental and academic delays, social awkwardness, and finally an ADHD diagnosis at age 6. 
The costs of at least 350 drugs in the U.S. are expected to rise in 2026, according to a new analysis, despite many of the drugmakers pledging to offer more favorable prices under new Trump administration policies.
US drug prices are set to rise again in 2026, with drugmakers planning increases on at least 350 branded medicines, according to new data from healthcare research firm 3 Axis Advisors.
If you opened your mail-order pharmacy box this month only to find a 30-day supply of your maintenance meds instead of your usual 90-day bottle, you’ve hit a 2026 “Quantity Limit” wall. Across the country, prescription auto-refills are switching quantities without explicit patient approval, leaving many seniors to manage three times as many shipments. This isn’t a mistake by the pharmacist; it is a direct result of new 2026 insurance quantity limit policies designed to control costs as the new $2,000 Part D out-of-pocket cap goes into full effect. By shortening your supply, insurers can more closely monitor your “adherence” and reduce the financial risk of “wasted” medication that occurs when a patient’s dosage changes mid-quarter.
UnitedHealth’s decision to push roughly one million seniors out of its Medicare Advantage products marks a break from the incremental tweaks that usually define this market. For older Americans who built their budgets and care relationships around these plans, the shift is not an abstract business story but a direct hit to how they will access doctors, drugs, and hospitals next year. I see it as the clearest sign in two decades that the balance of power between giant insurers and aging consumers is tilting again, and not in favor of retirees.
The root cause of our current health care affordability crisis is a broken market structure on the supply side resulting in out-of-control costs. The (apparently) core public policy issues: insurance, pre-existing conditions, employment linkage, lack of portability, the extent of coverage, denials, out of pocket costs, and deductibles would all become non-issues if health care was a normal expense that people could afford out of their income. 
A new flu variant known as subclade K is on the rise across the country. Although a spike in this particular strain of influenza, referred to by some as a “super flu,” has been recorded, symptoms remain similar to the most common form of flu called influenza A. Doctors say vaccination is the best way to avoid hospitalization or complications for those at risk. 
The cookware we use, the plates we eat from, and the food we put in our bodies every day may seem mundane, but they can be significant sources of chronic toxins.
Managing ulcerative colitis typically means navigating the unpredictable – disease flares, personal trigger foods, and the challenges of dietary restrictions. However, emerging evidence suggests a simple intervention – drinking eight ounces of coconut water twice daily – may help some patients achieve remission. 
Many forms of cancer are devastating. But pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly and aggressive forms there is. There are several reasons for this, including its stealthy progression, rapid metastasis (the way it spreads), and late detection. In fact, early detection is so rare there’s a five-year survival rate of 13.3%.
Popcorn is more than just a movie’s best friend; in fact, it’s actually quite good for you. We’re not just talking that “skinny pop” stuff that cuts both the calories and flavors in half. Your average bowl of popcorn is surprisingly healthy.
Everyday plastic exposures can affect hormones and long-term health, but simple steps can help reduce your risk.
A deadly quad-demic is taking shape in the US as the months get colder and people gather indoors, threatening to overwhelm hospitals, disrupt children’s education and pose a deadly risk to vulnerable seniors.