Posted on March 3, 2010.
Health reform - health care viable I have written quite extensively on the problems of American health care system and tried to cut through the rhetoric. You can read the preamble that solutions to article health reform compromise solution for the time of health care reform that is understandable and summarized in a short few concepts. (Not 1,000 or so pages)
The following concepts will be used specifically for the major issues the American system of care. I defined the following broad categories: 1) 2 Cost control) loss of vendor to minimize, 3) Reduce insurance premiums 4) Provide catastrophic coverage for all Americans 5) Create an environment affordable, providing health to manage 6) Minimal additional cost.
The following is a 21st century free market based, the solution leader. It is a foundation of a true solution, a place that I think many of us can accept.
Reform / Solutions:
1) A system that "Provides displaced workers" for up to one year. Most people look COBRA through the prism of unemployment and conclude that it is unaffordable. Of course they do, they are unemployed. Employers should be required to provide a minimum level of health insurance for 12 months after unemployment. After 1 year of the displaced employee could choose to purchase the minimum coverage of the employer group for unlimited period of time. The result, an individual will always have access to group coverage if the premiums are paid. No discrimination of pre-existing condition, which specifically addresses the problem of the uninsured and uninsurable temporary.
The standard minimum cover has 2 parts: First, some preventive health care and basic. or 2 doctors visits per year, plus an edge diagnostic coverage. The minimum required coverage employers provide health insurance to approximately $ 500 per beneficiary or family member. This allows the doctors and the unemployed will minimize future disaster needs. The second part of the minimum required would be catastrophic coverage over $ 100,000 to $ 250,000 threshold. People may have the option to purchase "gap" coverage to fill in between $ 500 and $ 100,000 if they wish. Once again employed the person would be transferred to the new employer group and responsibility reassigned. (This would only apply to groups say some predetermined level 50 members), giving the unemployed or those who have access to other work in a group health plan. Any person who has at least one job in life would have coverage as long as the premium has been paid.
2) Reduce the loss supplier / Catatrophic coverage for every American: specifically addressing a major burden on hospitals and other providers by the insured. This is one of the major issues driving up the cost for the insured. I would like to impose a budget off, separated, "Lock box" trust fund type that could not be taken forever. A small tax on wages would cover catastrophic threshold of $ 250,000 for every American. Because this is a tax on income (relative to federal poverty level), it would allow each worker in the system, including those of employees with enough income to afford some coverage, but not skate by the insurance. These people now add costs by increasing the risks, and using the services of expensive care for the ER. Those who have until the end of insurance covering this cost with a higher cost of care and higher premiums. This concept is a mechanism of positive income by using those who currently pay nothing. (More precisely, the 17 million people who earn more than $ 50,000 per year, but do not buy health insurance)
Important: currently insured will be rewarded as their new tax will be compensated adequately.
