The Commonwealth Foundation is a Pennsylvania-based free-market think tank that researches and advocates for policies related to economic freedom, healthcare reform, education choice, labor policy, and limited government.
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2026-04-07
Reevaluating the Affordable Care Act with The Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefieldwith Nathan Benefield
In the latest episode of the Health Policy Podcast, Nathan Benefield, Chief Policy Officer at the Commonwealth Foundation, discusses the Affordable Care Act's impact on healthcare costs and insurance coverage. Benefield critiques the ACA for failing to lower costs as promised and highlights the need for reform that empowers patients and increases market competition. He advocates for alternatives like health savings accounts and direct primary care to improve access and affordability in healthcare.
Notable quotes
“There are a number of what we call perverse incentives that... limit the competition.”
“The reality is, it didn't do that. Families are still seeing dramatic cost increases.”
“They should go back and say, 'Hey, what we created has not been working. We need a different approach.'”
“Putting people on Medicaid... is one of the lower quality forms of health coverage.”
“Allowing that national competition would actually help lower prices.”
“There's nothing as permanent in life as a government program.”