My Healthcare Reform Recommendations (not all inclusive)
just a little rant:
A meeting of all 50 state insurance commissioners will take
place to adopt the same rules. The buying across the state lines mantra is a
red herring. Buying across state lines will be allowed but the people of states
will find that certain companies will not offer networks in their state or
doctors not included in their networks. Also states have different tax laws so
policies may be more expensive in certain states. People will either be
encouraged or discouraged to purchase outside of their state.
1. Tort Reform: One
of the leading causes of escalating Healthcare costs. Enact caps on monetary judgments
much like Texas.
2. No lifetime limits
3. No pre existing conditions for illness or injury
diagnosed before age 19
4. Children can stay on parents plan till 26 but if moved to
own plan then pre existing conditions apply unless diagnosed prior to age 19.
If parents want to pay for it then let them. If they want to create a dependent
child on them for life, that’s their problem.
5. Pregnancy surcharge:
·
Pregnancy will be covered in insurance policies
as any other illness for those in CHILDBEARING and legal AGE 18 – 49 or can
PROVE that unable to have children.
·
If
married then pregnancy surcharge charged to husband’s policy as well at 50% for
husband and 50% for wife of total surcharge.
·
When 50 years old is reached surcharge is
removed automatically.
6. A FEDERAL pre existing subsidy pool. Every insurance
company MAY offer plans to members with pre existing conditions when they apply
at rates approved by STATES.
- Insurance
companies that do offer plans will receive both FEDERAL and STATE tax
credits in order to offset the cost of offering those plans.
- Those
members that choose a HIGH RISK plan and whose income does not qualify
them for MEDICAID can apply for FEDERAL HIGH RISK subsidy. Either by tax
credits at tax time or monthly payments to insurance company.
- Must
be deficit neutral
7. Health & Wellness Algorithm: Those that take care of themselves receive
discounts on plans. This will encourage
people to take care of themselves.
- Insurance
companies can write programming code the when rates are provided to states
on annual basis as in the past, those that meet health & wellness
parameters will not incur such rate increases at 100% or may receive rate
reduction.
8. Wellness physicals
covered 100%. We take our cars to be
checked out, we should be able to do the same to our bodies. This actually will
decrease costs due to prevention and proactive treatments.
9. ALL individual and group Health & Health Indemnity
insurance are able to be pre taxed or credited on taxes to not exceed negative
tax payments. NO TAXES paid on health insurance products.
10. Those not willing
to insurance themselves either traditionally or MEDICAID will not be FORCED to
purchase plans but hospitals and doctors etc. that are not paid for services
provided to an uninsured individual can:
·
Submit to IRS the written off reduced charges
for services provided and any tax refunds due to individual will be submitted directly
as payment to care providers.
·
Work with individual at reduced rates to pay off
debt
·
This will encourage people to take
responsibility either by getting insurance or paying what is owed.
·
This will decrease costs to hospitals and care
providers due to non payment.
11. Child Only plans encouraged once again.
12. MEDICAID threshold reduced to pre PPACA limits.
