Book’s in-depth analysis of the U.S. healthcare system reveals workers covered by private insurance are the most burdened by system’s high costs

FREDERICK, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES, January 11, 2023 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Veteran economist Sylvester Schieber has published “Healthcare USA: American Exceptionalism Run Amok,” a new book that analyzes the U.S. healthcare system and the financial burden it places on individuals. Schieber also delivers alternative methods and policies that could lower healthcare costs over time and lighten the disproportionate load imposed on workers and their dependents.

Although consumers have a widespread appreciation that the U.S. healthcare system is overly expensive, there is little understanding of who is being victimized by healthcare’s high costs and how their burden is imposed. The frequent stories in the media about individuals being hit with outsized bills include people of every age.

“I am very excited about Healthcare USA,” said Schieber, who has spent over 40 years doing research, writing and consulting on healthcare and retirement benefits. “This book has the potential to help individuals, employers, policy makers and the healthcare community to understand the workings of our healthcare system and what steps are needed to make it more efficient and affordable for all of us.”

The analysis developed in Healthcare USA and documented with data clearly shows it is the working-age population covered by private insurance—including those covered by insurance from their employers, especially lower-earning workers—who are most burdened by the system’s high costs. Schieber also shows that most members of this group do not nearly grasp the price they are paying for their health care, as a sizable share of the system’s high costs.

The 400-page book is divided into three main sections. Part I, “A Cancer on the American Dream” provides an in-depth look at the underlying economics of employee’s healthcare benefits. Part II, “The Healthcare Provider Market and Exploitation of the Vulnerable takes an up-close examination of physician and hospital pricing as well as drug costs and healthcare insurance pricing. Part III, “Looking for a Better Path Forward,” focuses on Schieber’s recommendations on alternative ways and policies that could reduce healthcare costs over time and lighten the disproportionate load imposed on workers and their dependents.

“HealthCare USA is impressive in its use of data to document how and why the U.S. health system is an economic burden for consumers. It is a rare and welcome work in the time it devotes to presenting a roadmap on a way forward to moderate its costs,” said Adam Cifu, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago.

Healthcare USA: American Exceptionalism Run Amok will be released on January 11, 2023 and is available directly through the publisher BookBaby as well as major on-line book distributors including Amazon.

About the author

Sylvester Schieber is an economist who has spent the past 40 years conducting research, writing and consulting on the financing of health and retirement plans for workers and the benefits they provide. He served two six-year terms on the Social Security Board and as chair of the board during his last three years as a member. He won the 2012 TIAA-CREF Paul A. Samuelson Award for his book, The Predictable Surprise: The unraveling of the U.S. Retirement System.

Ed Emerman
Eagle Public Relations
+1 609-240-2766
email us here