Economic Perspective:  When Are Health Costs Excessive If $15,000 Is Average 
By Gene Steuerle
posted October 1, 2003

In a Sept. 29 commentary in Tax Notes, economist Gene Steuerle fantasizes about a rational Medicare reform and prescription drug debate.

"Dateline: Wonderland -- better known as Washington, DC. Facts mean nothing -- or one thing one day and another the next. Big means small and small means big. Temporary means permanent and permanent means temporary. Fantasy reigns. In Wonderland, Congresses and presidents like to talk about how much they have given you this year in tax cuts, farm subsidies, educational benefits, energy subsidies, and so forth -- even though in the end it's you who ends up footing the bills. And a favorite topic in Wonderland right now is drug insurance with deductibles and ceilings that don't make any sense..."

Link to Full Article:
Tax Notes Economic Perspective:  When Are Health Costs Excessive If $15,000 Is Average? by Gene Steuerle (September 29, 2003)