The hottest Consumer Advocacy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

FTC: Big Insurance’s PBMs “Profit at the Expense of Patients by Inflating Drug Costs and Squeezing Main Street Pharmacies"

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 579 implied HN points • 09 Jul 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy Regulatory Affairs Insurance Industry Consumer Advocacy
  1. Big insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are making money by increasing drug prices and hurting small pharmacies. This means patients often pay more for their medications.
  2. The FTC found that just six companies control most of the pharmacy benefit market, limiting options for patients and squeezing independent pharmacies.
  3. Many people struggle to afford their medications, with some saying they skip doses because of high costs. This shows the serious impact of PBMs on healthcare access.

HEALTH CARE un-covered's New Beat: Disintermediation

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 839 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
🏥 Health Politics Health care Insurance Policy Reform Consumer Advocacy
  1. Disintermediation is happening in healthcare, meaning companies are finding ways to cut out big insurance middlemen. This change could reduce costs and improve care for many people.
  2. More employers are realizing they can avoid high premiums and complicated contracts by exploring alternatives to traditional insurance. This shift is slowly gaining attention but is crucial for workers and their health benefits.
  3. Greed often drives healthcare costs up, but there are others working hard to find better solutions. The focus is now on supporting those who are challenging the status quo to make healthcare more affordable.

Problems at The Wall Street Journal

The Bear Cave • 1399 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
💰 Finance Market Analysis Investment Strategies Stock Trading Consumer Advocacy
  1. There's concern about trading actions linked to Wall Street Journal stories. In one case, a trader made a lot of money by buying stocks right before a negative article was published.
  2. The Wall Street Journal may not have fully disclosed important information about sources in its articles. This raises questions about transparency and ethics in their reporting.
  3. Some journalists at the Wall Street Journal have connections to the companies they write about. This could lead to conflicts of interest that affect the trustworthiness of their reporting.

In Defense of Undertakers

Disaffected Newsletter • 1059 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Consumer Advocacy Societal norms
  1. Funeral directors are often unfairly blamed for taking advantage of grieving families. Many people don't plan ahead or shop around for funeral services, but still end up upset with the costs after losing someone.
  2. While it's easy to complain about prices, we also need to recognize our part in the funeral process. Many customers don't take the time to explore their options, which leads to regret later.
  3. The way we handle death has changed a lot over time. Instead of being a family responsibility, it has become a commercial service, and we should reflect on how we contribute to that system.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Gallows humor salves the hurt

Disaffected Newsletter • 1398 implied HN points • 10 May 23
😂 Humor Consumer Advocacy
  1. Gallows humor can help ease the pain of serious situations. It helps break tension and can make heavy topics feel a bit lighter.
  2. Talking about death openly and honestly can be very helpful for grieving people. It’s better to use clear language than to sugarcoat things.
  3. People appreciate when someone treats them like adults during tough times. They want practical advice and a touch of humor can really help them feel understood.

An epidemic of medical debt is devastating American families as health insurers ratchet up out-of-pocket demands

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 439 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🏥 Health Politics Medical Debt Insurance Healthcare Costs Consumer Advocacy Public Health
  1. Many American families are struggling with medical debt because health insurance companies are making them pay more out of pocket before they get any help. This leaves lots of people feeling like they don't have any insurance for most of the year.
  2. The rise in medical costs is leading to serious financial problems, with a large number of people owing money due to health care expenses. This debt crisis affects millions, and many people feel they might never fully pay it off.
  3. The way healthcare is organized forces people to pay higher costs for their care, often putting them in tough situations where they can't afford necessary treatments. Despite promises of affordable care, the system still seems to favor higher spending on healthcare.

In Defense of Undertakers

Disaffected Newsletter • 799 implied HN points • 20 Jan 23
🎭️ Culture Consumer Advocacy
  1. People often distrust funeral directors because they feel like they might take advantage of grieving families. Many think it's wrong for someone to profit from caring for the dead.
  2. The funeral industry has a history of being secretive about prices, which makes people suspicious. Buyers often make emotional decisions when planning funerals, leading to regrets later.
  3. Many people don't prepare for funeral costs in advance and end up blaming undertakers for high expenses. It's important to compare prices and options, just like you would for other purchases.

From Farms to Pharmaceuticals: It’s the Monopoly, Stupid!

Fight to Repair • 59 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
💼 Business Monopoly Right-to-repair Consumer Advocacy
  1. Market concentration, driven by monopolies, is increasing costs in various sectors from farms to pharmacies.
  2. Design patents on standard vehicle parts contribute to higher repair costs and insurance premiums for car owners.
  3. Addressing market concentration through smarter laws and better enforcement of anti-trust policies can help create fairer market conditions for consumers.

My video comment letter on FTC meeting today regarding PBM business practices

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 159 implied HN points • 17 Feb 22
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare policy Health Insurance Pharmaceuticals Public Health Consumer Advocacy
  1. Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are having a big impact on drug prices and people's ability to afford medications. Many Americans are struggling with high out-of-pocket costs and can't pick up their prescriptions.
  2. Big companies like UnitedHealth, CVS Health, and Cigna dominate the PBM market and have merged with health insurers. This has led to higher deductibles and premiums, putting families in financial trouble, even as these companies are making huge profits.
  3. The practices of these large PBMs can hurt independent pharmacies and might not benefit consumers. There is a call to investigate how these companies operate and how their actions affect patients and healthcare costs.

Fight to Repair Daily: Monday August 29, 2022

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 30 Aug 22
🕹 Technology Repairs Right-to-repair Consumer Advocacy Mobile Phones
  1. An independent mechanic fixed a Tesla Model 3 for $15,000 less than Tesla's quoted price by using a simple repair procedure.
  2. A new paper outlines strategies for strengthening the right to repair, emphasizing the need to challenge manufacturer practices hindering repair accessibility.
  3. Consumer advocates are pushing for quicker implementation of the 'right to repair' policy, to combat high repair costs and promote longer-lasting products.

Week in Repair: Jan 11-18

Fight to Repair • 19 implied HN points • 20 Jan 22
💼 Business Right-to-repair Consumer Advocacy Legislation Sustainability E-Waste
  1. Farmers are taking legal action against John Deere for breaking federal anti-trust laws.
  2. Consumer advocates push for a 'repair instead of throw away' principle in the EU to reduce electronic waste.
  3. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is challenging the DMCA to protect the 'Right to Repair,' focusing on the free speech aspect of repair restrictions.

California's insurance crisis: the cash cow slowing climate adaptation

Greg’s Sometimes Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Insurance Policy Climate change Consumer Advocacy Regulatory issues
  1. California has a serious homeowners insurance crisis because many companies aren't selling new policies. This makes it difficult for people to protect their homes.
  2. The problem is linked to climate change and old rules from 1988 that limit how insurance companies can calculate rates. These rules block new methods like predictive modeling that could help assess risks better.
  3. There's a push for change, but some groups are fighting it because they benefit from the old system. This means homeowners may face higher insurance costs, but having insurance is still better than having none.