Real healthcare reform (McCain, salaries, drug, health care)
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That was Frightening. The whole jist of McCains Health Policy is that each family in America would be given $5,000 p.a. tax credits to go into their private health care policy. Sounds great but it would mean that instead of the Private Health Companies lowering their premiums they would be able to raise them as the Govt. will be giving them at least $5,000 per year.They can adjust their premiums upward as the Govt. is giving them a cheque, no questions asked. Then they can add on their Co-Pay and their rstrictions. To say that by buying your Healthcare in a different State will lower the Premiums does not make sense. If Fl is a Monopoly or SC is a monopoly, all you will be doing is buying into another States monopoly. This more competition idea does not work as the Insurance companies will just keep a high tariff in all States and you will have to pay that. A bit like buying a new Buick in Fl or SC. Same rules apply. This plan will only increase the amount of money paid to the CEO's of the insurance Companies and they don't even have to hunt for it. The Govt. is going to give it to them. If McCain really wants to cut costs... Pay the $5,000 p.a. straight to the Hospitals and Doctors and this cuts out the payments to the "middle man" insurance Companies, This puts much more money into the Health Service and the Doctors and Hospitals will be the ones deciding on how it is spent. All the McCain plan will do is vastly increase the amount of money going into the Big Companies, not bring down prices by buying in other States. This will be a money making machine for the Fat Cats in the Insurance world.
Corporate socialism at its very best. We need a way to pay for the health care provided by doctors, hospitals and drug companies. We do not need insurance companies, their risk prone investments, inflated corporate executive salaries and profits.
Absolutely! It seems that everyone is Scared of a "nanny State" where the Govt. takes care of it's people, yet it seems that America is Scared wittless in case they lose the Control over them of Big Corporations. It's as if you don't have a CEO, deciding your fate you are lost.
Corporate socialism at its very best. We need a way to pay for the health care provided by doctors, hospitals and drug companies. We do not need insurance companies, their risk prone investments, inflated corporate executive salaries and profits.
We need to start looking at insurance as wealth protection, which is exactly its purpose. Your car insurance serves the same purpose... to protect you against liability so you don't lose your assets when you are found to be at fault for a collision. But your car insurance doesn't cover oil changes, new wiper blades, or a burnt out bulb.
People just expect full service insurance where everything is paid by the insurance company... but it's at a huge markup. I'd much rather pay $600 a year for catastrophic insurance, then pay for my individual vists out of pocket rather than pay $4500 a year for full service insurance.
All the McCain plan will do is vastly increase the amount of money going into the Big Companies, not bring down prices by buying in other States. This will be a money making machine for the Fat Cats in the Insurance world.
Hmmm. That sounds a whole lot like the Bushie tort reform, bankruptcy reform, and Social Security reform proposals. You don't suppose that making money for the Fat Cats is all that Republicans really care about, do you?
That was Frightening. The whole jist of McCains Health Policy is that each family in America would be given $5,000 p.a. tax credits to go into their private health care policy. Sounds great but it would mean that instead of the Private Health Companies lowering their premiums they would be able to raise them as the Govt. will be giving them at least $5,000 per year.They can adjust their premiums upward as the Govt. is giving them a cheque, no questions asked. Then they can add on their Co-Pay and their rstrictions. To say that by buying your Healthcare in a different State will lower the Premiums does not make sense. If Fl is a Monopoly or SC is a monopoly, all you will be doing is buying into another States monopoly. This more competition idea does not work as the Insurance companies will just keep a high tariff in all States and you will have to pay that. A bit like buying a new Buick in Fl or SC. Same rules apply. This plan will only increase the amount of money paid to the CEO's of the insurance Companies and they don't even have to hunt for it. The Govt. is going to give it to them. If McCain really wants to cut costs... Pay the $5,000 p.a. straight to the Hospitals and Doctors and this cuts out the payments to the "middle man" insurance Companies, This puts much more money into the Health Service and the Doctors and Hospitals will be the ones deciding on how it is spent. All the McCain plan will do is vastly increase the amount of money going into the Big Companies, not bring down prices by buying in other States. This will be a money making machine for the Fat Cats in the Insurance world.
I don't see how you get that conclusion.
If given a base amount of money to shop for insurance, you expand the choices. There are no policies out there under $5,000 per year that provide any meaningful coverage. Getting this annual base amount allows consumers to buy what best fits their personal situation.
For example, you could buy a policy with 100% coverage after a steep deductible amount, say $3,000 per person and $5,000 per family. The premiums would be significantly cheaper than a policy with a small deductible and then a co-pay towards catastrophic coverage.
If you had a real competitor, eg a UHI, then and only then would you see a big drop in Private Insurance Premiums. All of the Insurance companies have Actuaries who assess the risk and set the premium. None of the Private Insurance Companies will go against their Actuaries. There is a basic formula that is used and that is used by ALL of the Insurance Companies, no matter what State. The final premium may differ slightly but not enough to jump up and down about. This $5,000 will be given to all families, whether they earn $100 per week or $100,000 per week. If the tax incentives were means tested that would be fairer all round but would still encourage price hikes by the Insurance Companies who will make sure they squeeeeeeze every penny from the Govt. There is no need for the Govt. to use an Insurance Company to arrange treatment and is a unnecessary "middle man". Their costs will more than likely gobble up most of the $5,000 anyway. If the Tax incentives were paid direct into a fund for the Health Service much more money would be available for actual treatment and the lack of demand for Private Health Insurance would Drastically bring Private Health Premiums down. Because you have a base amount of Money will not stop the Insurance Companies saying that this figure is for the very basic health cover and the co-pay or restrictions will bump it up dramatically. Back to same problem but the Insurance Companies will increase their profits.
1) Allow Health Insurance Companies to sell products across state lines
2) Tort Reform - placing a cap on Punitive Damage Awards
3) Eliminate pre-existing condition exclusions
4) Allow professional groups to create "insurance pools"
5) Allow health insurance premiums to be fully tax deductible
Those are good but won't substantially reduce costs. These are the only the two items that will reduce costs by 100% or more:
6) Disband hospitals and enact legislation to prevent any health-care provider from offering more than three services.
7) Restrict "health insurance" companies to non-profit status only.
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