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House Democrats Unveil Plan for Health Care Overhaul – The Caucus …
The insurance industry has consistently stood in the way of low-cost health care. I am thrilled this plan includes a public option. — Sarah. 10. June 19, 2009 3:56 pm Link. How to pay for it: cap Medicare payments at $25000/year for … read more…
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Open Question: Could everyone agree on something like this for health care reform?
I apologize in advance for the length of this…but it is a complicated issue. I am an Independent so do not have either Repub or Dem leanings.
Some 40 plus million people are without health care coverage in this country. There is no doubt that this situation is unacceptable. The question is however, what is the best way to provide decent and affordable health care to those millions. The plans that are being looked at in congress currently would put the U.S. much more in debt…and dig us a hole we might not be able to climb out of eventually. Here is what I would suggest and I would like your opinion as to whether or not it would be fair and do the job without breaking the bank.
Step 1: The congress needs to make a list of the minimum coverage that they feel the current uninsured should have. For example: For pre existing conditions, preventative screenings for cancer, diabetes, blood pressure and heart and lung issues, annual physicals, emergency care, prescriptions etc. If they wanted to have more than one plan type they could do that also.
Step 2: Determine what percentages would need to be paid by the plan…and what deductibles and/ or co pays would be acceptable. (for each plan type of options available)
Step 3: This information would then be supplied to EVERY private health insurance company in the U.S. and a request for a quote to be given. When the quotes are all in, the company that had the lowest quote would be first in line to receive a heavy proportion of those individuals if the plan was accepted. Any other company that was willing to match that low quote would also be included in the coverage pot. People who are currently covered under another plan would be eligible as well…BUT…their income would be considered in determining premiums. If a company was currently providing insurance premium dollars for their employees, they must continue providing that coverage…or raise the wages of the employees to accommodate the differences.
Step 4: Congress would then determine by income and family size how much of that premium dollar had to come from the individual or family and how much would then be paid by tax dollars. Only those below poverty level would be eligible for free coverage. Everyone else would have to pay something (again depending on income and family size) This amount would go up should the person’s income go up. This plan could also replace the current Medicaid and Medicare program that is at present run by the government. The consumer share of the premiums would be paid monthly directly to the insurance carrier. Congress would have to work out a payment plan for the government’s share.
It would be the responsibility of the insurance carrier to process the claims and strict guidelines as to the timeliness of that processing would have to be made.
In addition, a law would have to be passed that would restrict any raise in charges for services by doctors and hospitals and other health care professionals, that were in excess of the cost of living increase. Doctors and hospitals would also be required to post their normal charges for all services on a web site and/or in plain view of the public at their facility.
I see many positives:
1. The government would not be taking on all the burdens for cost
2. The government would be able to lower the current costs of Medicare and Medicaid because people with higher incomes would pay more of their own care costs.
3. Private business would be able to hire more people which will have a favorable impact on the economy.
4. With the requirement that companies currently insuring their employees would have to match that premium amount in higher wages should they drop the program, it is likely that the company would not benefit from the eliminatation of their current programs so would not force a great number of people to opt for the new plan.
5. Forcing doctors and hospitals to post their normal charges on line etc. would hopefully create greater competition…thus helping to keep costs down.
I am sure I have missed something or am seeing something different than someone else would.
What would you add…take out….or change?
Open Question: What’s wrong with this health care plan?
1. Offer a tax credit to cover the amount of private insurance (it could be an advanced credit like the EIC)
2. Lower premiums and accept more people into the existing CHIP programs that provide insurance to the “uninsureable”
3. Keep medicaid and medicare for the indigent.
I think this would cost less and be less intrusive than government health care. It would make insurance affordable and accessible while still allowing doctors and not bureaucrats to determine what the best care is for patients.
Open Question: Is $6500 a year to cover one person under the Governments new plan for Health care an acceptable figure?
This number is based on this information:
That is why Democrats admit that it was a public relations disaster this week when the Congressional Budget Office issued a report this week concluding, from a partial draft of a Senate health committee bill, that the plan would cost $1 trillion over 10 years but only provide coverage for 16 million of the estimated 50 million Americans who are uninsured.
Just to do the math quickly 1,000,000,000,000 for 16,000,000 = 1,000,000 for 16 people, 1,000,000/16= 62,500 a person for 10 years = 6,500 a year for one person
I pay 4200 a year for my family of 4 through my employeer, that comes to 1,050 a year a person… Even if my employee is paying 80% of my insurance (which its not) that is going to be 5250, which is less than the government is paying per person!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20090619/pl_politico/23906
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