The Asclepius Initiative’s August 2026 newsletter focuses on how the U.S. health care system compares with other wealthy countries, the costs individuals and families face, and resources that can help people better navigate health care coverage.
This month, TAI looks at new findings from the Commonwealth Fund comparing the U.S. health care system with those in 19 other wealthy countries. Eighteen of those countries guarantee health coverage for all residents, while about 27 million people in the U.S. remain uninsured. The U.S. also spends far more on health care than its peers, yet Americans face higher out-of-pocket costs, are more likely to skip needed care because of cost, and experience worse outcomes on measures including life expectancy, avoidable deaths, and maternal mortality.
Those high costs are also felt directly by individuals and families. In 2025, workers with employer-sponsored health insurance paid an average deductible of $1,886 for single coverage, while family premiums averaged nearly $27,000, with workers contributing about $6,850. This month, TAI examines Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. For people who have access to them, HSAs, FSAs, and HRAs may help with deductibles, copays, prescriptions, dental and vision care, and other qualified health care expenses.
The August health care coverage literacy feature brings together TAI’s Understanding Health Care Coverage resources. These materials provide a starting point for people who want to better understand what health care coverage is meant to do, the major types of coverage available in the U.S., why having coverage matters, and what to consider when choosing a plan. The collection is designed to make basic information easier to find and use in a system that can be difficult to navigate.
At The Asclepius Initiative, we remain committed to providing clear, factual information that helps people navigate the health care system we have today while building support for a system where everyone has access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage from birth until death.