The Rub for Healthcare

David Frum isn't an economist but he illuminates the core problem with our healthcare policy better than I've heard any economist do it:

"Tax subsidies have encouraged Americans to demand that their employers buy health insurance for them rather than shopping for themselves. That core error is responsible for almost everything wrong with the health market in the U.S. It dulls consumers' sensitivity to the cost of insurance. It discourages insurers from competing against each other. It tempts state legislators to pile appealing but expensive mandates onto insurance companies. I might want to buy a cheaper policy without acupuncture coverage, but I'm not paying attention and the acupuncture lobby is."