health policy options

The reason most of us even bother with health insurance is that we assume our human bodies will not be forever healthy, that there are diseases that could left to their own devices kill us.

If people whose bodies are already not healthy cannot readily afford health insurance, there is really no reason to have it at all because basically it is not a service but a con -- you only are entitled to the benefits while you don't need them.

 

What is needed is to bypass all the politics and develop healthcare affordability for everyone -- perhaps better insurance options (I think a Medicare buy-in option could easily get the health insurance industry looking at better ways to serve their customers), better treatment options, many more healthcare professionals (trained in whole patient care, in active listening, in looking for the most practical options for their customers), community healthcare centers with sliding scale fees, and generally thinking these issues through without being tied to what hasn't been working.

 

If we really want immediate relief, and not an ongoing bipartisan debacle on national healthcare insurance coverage, why not legislate a simple Medicare buy-in for all option, sliding scale based on income, continue payroll tax but without a cut-off and at a lower rate to keep the buy-in cost low; those without means for any buy-in get government subsidy. Private insurers who want to continue in that business can give better service/coverage beyond Medicare or whatever they think the customers will buy from them with whatever conditions they choose.

 

Since the Medicare infrastructure is already in place, it could more quickly and easily work than a whole new scheme. This scheme could be a job booster by putting more money into low income pockets (people most likely to spend) and giving small business a break from the drag of providing healthcare. Medicare would have even more volume for cost-cutting clout and a greater income stream to stay solvent.

 

Still, we must continue to work on the underlying problem of high medical cost: seriously look at best practices both medically and fiscally and better promote what works, including treatments that are considered nontraditional in this culture; expand access to medical education (on all levels, not just MDs); expand efforts to educate the public generally on positive health practices and self-treatment options.

 

The true conservative solution would be to encourage massive entrance into the healthcare professions. Flood the country with drs, and real competition would kick in. In the meanwhile, having real competition for the healthcare insurance industry from the so-called public option (maybe a better name would help -- how about nonprofit option?) is in fact a free market conservative solution.