James Leckie
@luckyleckie.bsky.social
Proud Marylander. I rant about things I read. Opinions are mine.
I also answer to Mister Love
I also answer to Mister Love
Everyone should watch Death By Lightning and learn the incredibly important history of 1880s America.
Also, it's good. They kinda merged 1876 and 1880 and that's weird.
Also, it's good. They kinda merged 1876 and 1880 and that's weird.
November 14, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Everyone should watch Death By Lightning and learn the incredibly important history of 1880s America.
Also, it's good. They kinda merged 1876 and 1880 and that's weird.
Also, it's good. They kinda merged 1876 and 1880 and that's weird.
There's an economist-y response to claim people should get tax-free accounts to pay for services.
Two issues:
1) the poor are way more price sensitive
2) "tax free" discounts in progressive tax systems just throw money at people that already have the ability to pay
Two issues:
1) the poor are way more price sensitive
2) "tax free" discounts in progressive tax systems just throw money at people that already have the ability to pay
Sharing this piece from my colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social on the problems with HSAs.
www.cbpp.org/blog/five-re...
www.cbpp.org/blog/five-re...
Five Reasons Lawmakers Should Reject Expansions of Health Savings Accounts
Expanding health savings accounts (HSAs) is a key element of Republicans’ health care policy agenda. Ostensibly, HSAs allow people enrolled in certain health insurance policies to set aside money...
www.cbpp.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
There's an economist-y response to claim people should get tax-free accounts to pay for services.
Two issues:
1) the poor are way more price sensitive
2) "tax free" discounts in progressive tax systems just throw money at people that already have the ability to pay
Two issues:
1) the poor are way more price sensitive
2) "tax free" discounts in progressive tax systems just throw money at people that already have the ability to pay
On the one hand, I love that artists are telling Ticket Master to go fuck itself.
On the other hand, if I don't get these tickets, I WOULD pay more to get them!
On the other hand, if I don't get these tickets, I WOULD pay more to get them!
November 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
On the one hand, I love that artists are telling Ticket Master to go fuck itself.
On the other hand, if I don't get these tickets, I WOULD pay more to get them!
On the other hand, if I don't get these tickets, I WOULD pay more to get them!
Reposted by James Leckie
Democrats didn't funnel subsidy dollars directly to insurers because of their great love for industry. It's just the approach that's most user-friendly and administratively efficient.
November 12, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Democrats didn't funnel subsidy dollars directly to insurers because of their great love for industry. It's just the approach that's most user-friendly and administratively efficient.
Reposted by James Leckie
Sharing this piece from my colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social on the problems with HSAs.
www.cbpp.org/blog/five-re...
www.cbpp.org/blog/five-re...
Five Reasons Lawmakers Should Reject Expansions of Health Savings Accounts
Expanding health savings accounts (HSAs) is a key element of Republicans’ health care policy agenda. Ostensibly, HSAs allow people enrolled in certain health insurance policies to set aside money...
www.cbpp.org
November 8, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Sharing this piece from my colleague @gidlukens.bsky.social on the problems with HSAs.
www.cbpp.org/blog/five-re...
www.cbpp.org/blog/five-re...
Some books I really should read
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...
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Some books I really should read
...
...
Personally, I think alternatives to the ACA worth exploring are national insurance (actually existing Medicare for All), Medicare for All, or Medicaid for All (Canada).
I think an NHS would never be well-funded in the US and I think Singapore's model (HSAs) suck.
But that's just me.
I think an NHS would never be well-funded in the US and I think Singapore's model (HSAs) suck.
But that's just me.
Alternative models to the ACA:
1) the NHS/socialized medicine
2) National health insurance with private supplement (Medicare, France, South Korea, etc) [OOP max sold separately?]
3) Medicaid for all (Canada if no private opt out, otherwise Australia?)[state-run, little to no OOP max, networks?]
1) the NHS/socialized medicine
2) National health insurance with private supplement (Medicare, France, South Korea, etc) [OOP max sold separately?]
3) Medicaid for all (Canada if no private opt out, otherwise Australia?)[state-run, little to no OOP max, networks?]
November 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Personally, I think alternatives to the ACA worth exploring are national insurance (actually existing Medicare for All), Medicare for All, or Medicaid for All (Canada).
I think an NHS would never be well-funded in the US and I think Singapore's model (HSAs) suck.
But that's just me.
I think an NHS would never be well-funded in the US and I think Singapore's model (HSAs) suck.
But that's just me.
FWIW, this is for a 35yo making $62K/year in VA paying the full cost of the plan.
Plans like this are somewhat common in Switzerland with a higher OOP max here.
I think with some asteriks, the ACA functions like the Swiss model. If you think this is bad, emulate something else.
Plans like this are somewhat common in Switzerland with a higher OOP max here.
I think with some asteriks, the ACA functions like the Swiss model. If you think this is bad, emulate something else.
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 PM
FWIW, this is for a 35yo making $62K/year in VA paying the full cost of the plan.
Plans like this are somewhat common in Switzerland with a higher OOP max here.
I think with some asteriks, the ACA functions like the Swiss model. If you think this is bad, emulate something else.
Plans like this are somewhat common in Switzerland with a higher OOP max here.
I think with some asteriks, the ACA functions like the Swiss model. If you think this is bad, emulate something else.
Reposted by James Leckie
In all the years I have worked in health policy GOP/conservative proposals always boil down to the same ideas: block grant/cap #Medicaid, Medicare premium support, unregulated individual health insurance markets and tax-favored accounts like Health Savings Accounts. So we’re back to HSAs this week.
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
In all the years I have worked in health policy GOP/conservative proposals always boil down to the same ideas: block grant/cap #Medicaid, Medicare premium support, unregulated individual health insurance markets and tax-favored accounts like Health Savings Accounts. So we’re back to HSAs this week.
Look, not all ideas are winners
November 11, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Look, not all ideas are winners
Reposted by James Leckie
My premiums pay for my vaccines. They also pay for someone's bypass surgery or treatment for a 40 year old's unexpected colon cancer diagnosis.
Health insurance premiums are no more a grift than tax dollars funding public school, unemployment benefits, or SNAP.
Health insurance premiums are no more a grift than tax dollars funding public school, unemployment benefits, or SNAP.
November 9, 2025 at 10:59 PM
My premiums pay for my vaccines. They also pay for someone's bypass surgery or treatment for a 40 year old's unexpected colon cancer diagnosis.
Health insurance premiums are no more a grift than tax dollars funding public school, unemployment benefits, or SNAP.
Health insurance premiums are no more a grift than tax dollars funding public school, unemployment benefits, or SNAP.
You can't self-fund cancer care with an FSA or HSA. Sorry to burst your bubble, you need to spread out costs.
November 9, 2025 at 10:55 PM
You can't self-fund cancer care with an FSA or HSA. Sorry to burst your bubble, you need to spread out costs.
What a time to not have a senator, am I right?
November 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
What a time to not have a senator, am I right?
Yea, this is true
I cannot emphasize enough that if you feel sad, donating money makes you feel better. Local food bank, diaper bank, mutual aid, a favorite charity, cancer research, or a local news site like @thecity.nyc; there are so many options. Money is the most efficient donation. Or sign up to volunteer.
November 9, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Yea, this is true
Reposted by James Leckie
You won't catch me with economic nostalgia
November 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
You won't catch me with economic nostalgia
And half of seniors were uninsured
15 percent of American homes lacked indoor plumbing in 1960.
The idea that everyone in 1955 America lived in a split-level suburban home with two cars and three kids and one income is, quite simply, a fantasy borne of media consumption.
The idea that everyone in 1955 America lived in a split-level suburban home with two cars and three kids and one income is, quite simply, a fantasy borne of media consumption.
November 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM
And half of seniors were uninsured
I'll bite, gimme the deets on this race
This is an accurate - if very harsh - assessment of how the left blew up its own chances in the Minneapolis mayoral race. It’s hard to overstate how much the city’s left exists in social media bubbles, inventing heroes and villains other people don’t really share www.startribune.com/jacob-frey-r...
Roper: Jacob Frey can thank the far left for handing him another term
Frey was a vulnerable incumbent. But progressives banked on the wrong guy to beat him.
www.startribune.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I'll bite, gimme the deets on this race
You guys know health care tax credits follow the person getting coverage, right? You can even choose whether you want to fully frontload the help or get it all at tax time.
Most Medicaid works slightly differently. The government pays an insurance company each month to cover you.
Most Medicaid works slightly differently. The government pays an insurance company each month to cover you.
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
You guys know health care tax credits follow the person getting coverage, right? You can even choose whether you want to fully frontload the help or get it all at tax time.
Most Medicaid works slightly differently. The government pays an insurance company each month to cover you.
Most Medicaid works slightly differently. The government pays an insurance company each month to cover you.
Reposted by James Leckie
...and here's TEXAS, which has *already had* Premium Alignment in place for several years and is continuing it.
Notice how the prices still increase at each metal level *but* GOLD plans start out less expensive than silver for both years?
Notice how the prices still increase at each metal level *but* GOLD plans start out less expensive than silver for both years?
November 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
...and here's TEXAS, which has *already had* Premium Alignment in place for several years and is continuing it.
Notice how the prices still increase at each metal level *but* GOLD plans start out less expensive than silver for both years?
Notice how the prices still increase at each metal level *but* GOLD plans start out less expensive than silver for both years?
Just FYI, a lot of other countries solve the whole issue of crazy premiums for family plans by making coverage free for children.
And they just cap premiums at a % of income like 8% or 10%. They don't allow for welfare cliffs.
And they just cap premiums at a % of income like 8% or 10%. They don't allow for welfare cliffs.
November 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Just FYI, a lot of other countries solve the whole issue of crazy premiums for family plans by making coverage free for children.
And they just cap premiums at a % of income like 8% or 10%. They don't allow for welfare cliffs.
And they just cap premiums at a % of income like 8% or 10%. They don't allow for welfare cliffs.
Literally just send kids to childcare or school and feed them at no charge.
Raise my taxes if you have to. It's fine.
Raise my taxes if you have to. It's fine.
School lunches get a bad rap, but they're healthier than the average packed lunch. And making them free for all amplifies academic and health benefits for low-income kids by removing stigma/shame.
So I'm glad Colorado voted to raise taxes on high-income households to make school meals free for all.
So I'm glad Colorado voted to raise taxes on high-income households to make school meals free for all.
November 6, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Literally just send kids to childcare or school and feed them at no charge.
Raise my taxes if you have to. It's fine.
Raise my taxes if you have to. It's fine.
Reposted by James Leckie
School lunches get a bad rap, but they're healthier than the average packed lunch. And making them free for all amplifies academic and health benefits for low-income kids by removing stigma/shame.
So I'm glad Colorado voted to raise taxes on high-income households to make school meals free for all.
So I'm glad Colorado voted to raise taxes on high-income households to make school meals free for all.
November 6, 2025 at 11:30 AM
School lunches get a bad rap, but they're healthier than the average packed lunch. And making them free for all amplifies academic and health benefits for low-income kids by removing stigma/shame.
So I'm glad Colorado voted to raise taxes on high-income households to make school meals free for all.
So I'm glad Colorado voted to raise taxes on high-income households to make school meals free for all.