Quote:
Originally Posted by whell
Sure. To echo a point you made earlier, and to expand on it:
- no more employer group health insurance. Why should I get a better deal on health care costs versus someone who is self-employed just because I work for an employer who offers group coverage with a qualified (pre-tax) plan?
- health care is no longer 100% financed by insurance. It was a fine idea 60 years ago, but health care products, and health care utilization, have evolved and this is no longer a sustainable model.
- health insurance is only available as catastrophic coverage. Think of it as an insurance policy with a very high deductible: $50000 or maybe even $100000.
- Heath care costs over (pick a number, but you get the idea) $10000 are 100% tax deductible. They are fully deductible up to the level of the individual's catastrophic coverage policy. If you libs want get involved in means - testing health care cost/coverage, here's your chance: you can means-test the level of the tax deduction. Maybe the 1%'ers only get a 50% tax deduction for medical costs.
- Wellness / preventative services are also 100% tax deductible. Elective or cosmetic medical services or products are not tax deductible.
- Update or repeal outdated health care delivery regulations. For example, do I really need to see a physician to diagnose and treat a cold, sinus infection or ear infection? Why can't these services be provided by a nurse practitioner (a nurse with an advanced medical degree) or a physician's assistant? Get states out of the business of regulating health insurance since it is now only available as a catastrophic product.
- Some level of tort reform to get liability costs under control, as well as getting rid of the incentives for CYA medical services which drive costs and provide little value to the patient.
- Physicians can compete for delivery of services, offer competitive financing arrangements, which will help drive down costs. No need to negotiate with insurance carriers for reimbursement rates. No need to upcharge some patients to pay for reduced reimbursements from Medicare to defray the cost of treating other patients. And this is key - no giant government bureaucracies for health care financing, regulation, and mandating unproductive delivery models. No need for thousands of additional IRS agents to police the health care system.
There. Fixed. Under this model, everyone has access to the same health care system with the same level playing field. Individuals have an incentive to stay well by accessing wellness services, and also to stay well to avoid having to pay something out of pocket to cover their health issues (yes, even in health care spending you need to have skin in the game to drive healthy behaviors). And its cost effective - dirt cheap when compared to PPACA, and direct cheap compared to what other countries are going broke right now trying to finance. It allows for market forces to increase inefficiencies and encourage innovation, while getting rid of the incentives for delivery of CYA medical services.
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A few good points here but also some that only lead to higher costs for the individual and the assumption that making wellness plans more available will mean everyone will use them, coupled with faith in the notion that having "skin in the game" means people will actually take better care of themselves----And you know what that means. It means that it won't work.
At least not at the level your typically arrogant, know it all, republican response; "There. Fixed." would seem to suggest.
A pack of cigarettes used to be cheap. I see they're almost six bucks now. I also see a lot of people still smoke. Alcoholics still go bankrupt feeding their habit. As do drug addicts. People can't afford to pay anything will still receive treatment and walk away...............
It's the heel, dear Achilles.
Dave