Maybe providers won’t think they died and went to heaven, but it just might seem that way. No more dealing with third parties over every little thing. No more wondering about payment. Only when the Catastrophic Policies kick in would there be any reason to deal with an insurance company. That would most likely be in the case of serious illness and that’s exactly as it should be. Everything else just normal business. You would just have to be approved as a legitimate health provider. Anyone who is generally approved by insurance companies and/or Medicaid would be approved to accept the new credit cards. Providers that sell other products or services other than healthcare would have to keep a separation. For instance, Walgreen’s has separate terminals for Healthcare & Prescriptions so they don’t give Total Rewards Points on these charges. Nothing but healthcare terminals would be the norm or providers might come up with another innovative solution. To be sure, your customers will be keenly aware of what they are getting for their money and you’ll have no choice but compete. Again that is the way it should be. Large or small providers will be able to concentrate on providing good service at a competitive price. Providers could offer discounted prepaid packages or most anything else that might work. The huge potential market could prove very rewarding to innovative providers. The medical profession could concentrate on medicine. If nothing else it should improve morale. What more do you need to know?
Policy
HOW DAVE’S PLAN WOULD WORK FOR INDIVIDUALS
For individuals covered under a contract that provides for healthcare and retirement, nothing would change while the contract is in force. A plan ID number would have to be included in the person’s Income Tax Form. That’s all. Those under Government mandated plans say for Congressmen, the President or the military would stay the same. Just indicate it on the tax form. Everyone else would have a Personal Benefits Account (PBA). Those that are employed would give their employer your PBA account information. The employer would on payday make the proper deductions, 10% minimum up to a Max equal to the current 401K cap plus $10,000 health allowance and deposit it in the employee’s PBA. The self-employed would make those payments themselves on at least a quarterly basis. If your adjusted net income on your tax return indicates that you are entitled to Medicaid or a subsidy, the proper amount would be credited in total to your PBA . The first thing the account would do is direct pay the Premium for a Catastrophic Health Policy you selected. Continue reading
DAVE’S PLAN TO REFORM THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Most people can agree the ACA will be up for revision in the new congress. Never popular with a majority of Americans, most think as written it will never deliver universal coverage at reasonable cost. Like a dish the chef thought would be a success but the patrons sent back en mass, we have to change the recipe. How do we do that? A good place to start would be to keep the ingredients that patrons say they like. In the ACA”s case that would be universal coverage, no lifetime limits, children can stay on their parents plan till age 26, subsidy support for those just above Medicaid and the plan can never be cancelled. Keep these. Next what do the critics say is lacking? First, it’s too complex. Second, fails to use the market to give you choices of what you personally need and who delivers your care. Third, no real way to control prices except through government imposed restrictions. Putting the choice squarely in the individuals hands and pocketbook would move us in that direction as would expand the market for plans across state lines. Let’s add these to the pot. Continue reading
Detour on the Road 