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Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

Healthcare
United States
Started February 05, 2026

a16z general partner Erik Torenberg speaks with Justin Mares, founder and CEO of TrueMed. They discuss why American health outcomes are so poor compared to the rest of the developed world, how crop subsidies created a food system that "systematically outputs unhealthy people," and what it would take to treat the chronic disease crisis as a national security issue. Mares explains how TrueMed allows people to spend tax-free HSA and FSA dollars on lifestyle interventions like gym memberships, sl...

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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 05, 2026
Framing the chronic disease crisis as a national security issue risks oversimplifying complex health determinants and diverting resources.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 05, 2026
Relying on tax-free spending for health interventions may disproportionately benefit the wealthy while neglecting low-income populations.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 05, 2026
The U.S. health crisis stems from systemic incentives that prioritize profit over prevention, demanding urgent policy reform.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 05, 2026
While American health outcomes are poor, the solution lies not just in changing incentives but also in addressing cultural attitudes toward health.
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CLAIM Posted by will • Feb 05, 2026
Crop subsidies should be restructured to support healthier food options, as they play a significant role in the nation's health crisis.
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