Ryan Ellis on Obamacare Subsidies, Healthcare Costs, and Accountability

In this episode of the Health Policy Podcast, Ryan Ellis, president of the Center for a Free Economy, discusses the expiration of COVID-era Affordable Care Act subsidies and why he believes they should not be extended. Ellis explains how the ACA's design mandates limit competition, drive up insurance premiums, and distort the healthcare market. He also examines the political incentives behind continued subsidy expansion, the role of insurers and hospital systems, and recent examples of fraud within federal assistance programs. The conversation highlights the need for stronger oversight, work requirements, and long-term structural reforms to restore accountability and sustainability in U.S. healthcare policy. 11:00