How Are Your Medical Costs?

By Jane Orient, M.D.

Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) passed in 2010, how are you doing?

 As the graph below shows, health insurance premiums have grown steadily, and this was not slowed by ACA. Since 2000, the average U.S. family health insurance premium has increased from $6,000 to more than $25,000 in 2024. That’s a 297% increase, more than triple overall inflation. This does not tell the whole story because deductibles and copays have also increased, as have denials of coverage.

 Obviously, mandating insurance and requiring cost-free inclusion of “preventive” services did not lower costs.

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Don’t Put OK Seniors’ Health at Risk

By Marty Fuller

I am a retired insurance executive who has been a Medicare Advantage member for years. Despite working in the insurance industry for most of my life, quality healthcare would have been out of reach for me without the support of Medicare Advantage. I certainly would not be able to take care of my health the way I can as a participant in this program. In general, medical costs are simply too high. Fortunately, Medicare Advantage helps me maintain my health and make it a priority, all within my budget.

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OSU Media Gift from SEL Alumnus

By David Arnett

Analysis: Friday August 29, Oklahoma State University announced a historic gift to the School of Media and Strategic Communications from OSU alumnus Keith Garton and his husband, David Sheehan.

The commitment is the largest in program history and will establish the Garton Family Endowed Chair for Media and Strategic Communications, but despite a specific request from this writer, OSU declined to specify the gift amount writing, “the donors requested we not publicize the amount of their gift.”

The funds will “support rural journalism and student organizations within the school,” according to the release.

Keith Garton, President & Publisher of Red Chair Publishing holds over 30 years of experience with child-specific educational publishers such as DC Heath, Scholastic, Macmillan McGraw-Hill, Pearson and TIME for Kids. The company specializes in Social, Emotional, Learning (SEL) ideology indoctrination of children.

The Garton Family (Photo: Provided & Identified by OSU Foundation)
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Safest Way to Consume Nicotine?

By Staff Report

Wednesday August 27, on Fox & Friends, Griff Jenkins reported on Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy’s recent interview discussing nicotine and smoking, calling pouches “the safest way to consume nicotine.”

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
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