This came from another discussion when I criticized the GOP for railing against Obamacare but failing to offer an alternative. This is my suggestion on how to apply a more reasoned open market approach to healthcare. And no, I have zero experience in healthcare or healthcare funding.
Well, for one, we have about 5 medical systems, ranging from nationalized care (Medicare-Medicaid- VA) to complete private enterprise. We rail about those who don't pay, especially illegals, but do nothing about it. In total as a country we spend more than enough to provide quality healthcare for all citizens but the patchwork system has a lot of waste and duplication at the same time that it has significant gaps.
These are the major providers:
Private care insurance paid by employers and employees.
Private care insurance paid by small business owners and individuals.
Medicare
Medicaid
Indigent care
Private pay (rich individuals and overseas patients)
Governments at 4 levels paying subsidies:
Federal
State
County
City (some city hospitals but EMS provides a lot of care)
Part of the solution would be to redirect some of the local funding to the federal government which in turn would pay as noted below.
Prices for the same service vary significantly based upon the the type of insurance and the payee. To me, there should be a system that has a uniform set of prices- regardless of who pays.
There should be a way to standardize and reduce back office costs like billing and medical records.
I would start with repealing the McCarran Ferguson Act (which delegates insurance regulation to the states). Then I would have a federal government basic Bronze, Silver and Gold plan. So there would essentially be three difference coverages, not thousands. It would work just like states standardized auto and homeowner policies. Private companies would compete on those standardized policies.
Government subsidized healthcare patients would receive the Bronze plan at a locally set rate.
Insurance Riders would be available for controversial issues.
All plans would be individual.
There would be no pre-existing exclusion.
There would be emphasis on wellness and prevention.
Chronic conditions that are the result of lifestyle choices (obesity, smoking, drug use) would have some strong incentives for better health and/or disincentives for poor choices.
Substance abuse would have some good programs AND very severe penalties for serial abusers.
There is a lot in there that the GOP could sink their teeth into.
A final comment. I have two friends who are CEOs of publicly traded companies. One of their biggest headaches is managing the cost of healthcare benefits. They would gladly accept a national plan that would get them out of the healthcare business.
Well, for one, we have about 5 medical systems, ranging from nationalized care (Medicare-Medicaid- VA) to complete private enterprise. We rail about those who don't pay, especially illegals, but do nothing about it. In total as a country we spend more than enough to provide quality healthcare for all citizens but the patchwork system has a lot of waste and duplication at the same time that it has significant gaps.
These are the major providers:
Private care insurance paid by employers and employees.
Private care insurance paid by small business owners and individuals.
Medicare
Medicaid
Indigent care
Private pay (rich individuals and overseas patients)
Governments at 4 levels paying subsidies:
Federal
State
County
City (some city hospitals but EMS provides a lot of care)
Part of the solution would be to redirect some of the local funding to the federal government which in turn would pay as noted below.
Prices for the same service vary significantly based upon the the type of insurance and the payee. To me, there should be a system that has a uniform set of prices- regardless of who pays.
There should be a way to standardize and reduce back office costs like billing and medical records.
I would start with repealing the McCarran Ferguson Act (which delegates insurance regulation to the states). Then I would have a federal government basic Bronze, Silver and Gold plan. So there would essentially be three difference coverages, not thousands. It would work just like states standardized auto and homeowner policies. Private companies would compete on those standardized policies.
Government subsidized healthcare patients would receive the Bronze plan at a locally set rate.
Insurance Riders would be available for controversial issues.
All plans would be individual.
There would be no pre-existing exclusion.
There would be emphasis on wellness and prevention.
Chronic conditions that are the result of lifestyle choices (obesity, smoking, drug use) would have some strong incentives for better health and/or disincentives for poor choices.
Substance abuse would have some good programs AND very severe penalties for serial abusers.
There is a lot in there that the GOP could sink their teeth into.
A final comment. I have two friends who are CEOs of publicly traded companies. One of their biggest headaches is managing the cost of healthcare benefits. They would gladly accept a national plan that would get them out of the healthcare business.
