Americans Are Absolutely Losing Their Minds Over Dr. Oz
If you’ve had a chance to look at your health insurance options for 2026, you’ve likely noticed costs rising. People who get their plans through state Affordable Care Act exchanges are seeing premiums that are about 30% higher than what they paid this year.
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People who obtain insurance through their employers are also likely to experience higher costs. Premiums for company-sponsored health plans have increased by 6% to 7% on average.
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With other costs, like food and housing, putting pressure on Americans’ tight budgets, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, shared some “tips” for people who want to reduce their healthcare costs, and it’s going viral for all the wrong reasons.
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In an appearance on News, Oz claimed that obesity is behind “probably a quarter of all healthcare spending,” which does not appear to be accurate. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. healthcare spending totaled $4.9 trillion in 2023. The Centers for Disease Control says obesity-related healthcare costs total about $173 billion annually.
Oz went on to say, “So if you really want to reduce the cost of healthcare in America, get healthier.”
In response, some people share stories that illustrate why “being healthier” is much easier said than done. Our health is really complex and it is possible to do all the “right” things and still get sick. This does not mean that it is worth maintaining healthy habits, but it is a reality that our state of health does not depend entirely on us.
It just seems like pretty clueless advice, especially coming from a real doctor.
Others pointed out that all the healthy habits in the world won’t cover your medical bills if you are injured in an accident.
And don’t even get me started on the costs of having a baby.
And finally, one person summed up Oz’s suggestion as “Fuck you and die health plan.”
