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For those who describe themselves as small gov't conservatives, healthcare question
- Thread starter Dr.Drock
- Start date
>
The biggest problem with the current health care insurance system is that plans are tied to employment (for the vast majority of people) and the entanglements that causes because if they loose their jobs they loose their coverage (and no most people that loose their jobs can't afford COBRA because they have to pay the full premiums) and it changes the market dynamic because its not the individual consumer that is doing the shopping.
Maybe the employer provides (if they choose) a "health care stipend", from a business perspective they get the deduction as a business expense. The individual takes the stipend and then uses it (along with some of their own money) to purchase an individual plan or other independent group plan (I'm think through a religious organization, civil organization, professional organization, union, credit union, etc...). The employers W-2 indicates the amount of the stipend. The insurance company issues a statement like mortgage companies with what your insurance premiums were. Both amounts go on the tax forms and any stipend received which is not spent on insurance is charged as income.
This puts the power of choosing a plan back where it belongs and makes it the individuals responsibility.
>>>>
The biggest problem with the current health care insurance system is that plans are tied to employment (for the vast majority of people) and the entanglements that causes because if they loose their jobs they loose their coverage (and no most people that loose their jobs can't afford COBRA because they have to pay the full premiums) and it changes the market dynamic because its not the individual consumer that is doing the shopping.
Maybe the employer provides (if they choose) a "health care stipend", from a business perspective they get the deduction as a business expense. The individual takes the stipend and then uses it (along with some of their own money) to purchase an individual plan or other independent group plan (I'm think through a religious organization, civil organization, professional organization, union, credit union, etc...). The employers W-2 indicates the amount of the stipend. The insurance company issues a statement like mortgage companies with what your insurance premiums were. Both amounts go on the tax forms and any stipend received which is not spent on insurance is charged as income.
This puts the power of choosing a plan back where it belongs and makes it the individuals responsibility.
>>>>
Last edited:
TakeAStepBack
Gold Member
- Mar 29, 2011
- 13,935
- 1,742
- 245
Always the free market. Healthcare problems in the US today stem directly from subsidies, insurances that are mandated through regulations and a host of other govt. involvement that drives the costs through the roof. Just like every industry that govt. touches.
- Nov 26, 2011
- 123,586
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I agree with WorldWatcher, employer provided health insurance is a big part of the health care cost problem. Take it away and increase employee pay commensurate with the savings the employer realizes from not having to pay insurance benefits, then let the individual buy health insurance the same way they buy car insurance. If necessary, give the individual a tax credit for health insurance.
Secondly, raise the retirement age. We are living longer, we should be working longer. Working five years longer would mean we would be paying into the Medicare system five years longer and drawing from it five years less. This would be huge savings.
There are many other things which need to be done along with these things. There is no single magic bullet which will cure the problem. For instance, one third of all uninsured never finished high school. So an obvious facet of the solution must be to raise the high school graduation rate so that we have a better educated workforce more capable of supporting itself.
The uninsured problem is not as big as the "47 million uninsured Americans" lie would have you believe. For one thing, about a third of those "uninsured Americans" are not Americans. They are immigrants, legal and illegal.
For another, the people who are uninsured today are not the same people who are uninsured tomorrow. Many of the uninsured are those who lost a job that provided insurance, but they are re-insured when they are re-employed. So for many people, being uninsured is a temporary problem and not the permanent one implied by nanny state proponents.
Since the problem has been grossly exaggerated and mis-identified, any solutions based on false premises will naturally fail to solve the actual problem and create an even more bloated, impotent government.
The problem is smaller and more easily managed than advertised.
Secondly, raise the retirement age. We are living longer, we should be working longer. Working five years longer would mean we would be paying into the Medicare system five years longer and drawing from it five years less. This would be huge savings.
There are many other things which need to be done along with these things. There is no single magic bullet which will cure the problem. For instance, one third of all uninsured never finished high school. So an obvious facet of the solution must be to raise the high school graduation rate so that we have a better educated workforce more capable of supporting itself.
The uninsured problem is not as big as the "47 million uninsured Americans" lie would have you believe. For one thing, about a third of those "uninsured Americans" are not Americans. They are immigrants, legal and illegal.
For another, the people who are uninsured today are not the same people who are uninsured tomorrow. Many of the uninsured are those who lost a job that provided insurance, but they are re-insured when they are re-employed. So for many people, being uninsured is a temporary problem and not the permanent one implied by nanny state proponents.
Since the problem has been grossly exaggerated and mis-identified, any solutions based on false premises will naturally fail to solve the actual problem and create an even more bloated, impotent government.
The problem is smaller and more easily managed than advertised.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #5
Always the free market. Healthcare problems in the US today stem directly from subsidies, insurances that are mandated through regulations and a host of other govt. involvement that drives the costs through the roof. Just like every industry that govt. touches.
Fully agree
Separation of gubmint and medicine, including but not limited to:
- Privatization or outright abolition of the FDA.
- Removal of all tax breaks for employer-provided insurance.
- Devolve to the states or privatize Medicare/Medicaid.
- Enforce the commerce clause, properly for a change, and make medical insurance a free field of interstate commerce.
DiamondDave
Army Vet
Free market with reduced regulation.. opening up for more competition....
Nobody wants Obamacare? I do NOT wonder why!
- Aug 4, 2009
- 281,171
- 140,790
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Universal Healthcare
- Thread starter
- #13
Universal Healthcare
So your healthcare views line up the most with Newt's.
Skull Pilot
Diamond Member
- Nov 17, 2007
- 45,446
- 6,163
- 1,830
When you say health care do you mean health insurance?
Cuyo
Training a Guineapig army
10 free market and none for the others, I'm a little surprised given the majority political view on this board.
Interesting.
The four options are not mutually exclusive, nor are they the only four options.
Cuyo
Training a Guineapig army
Free Market and competition always works better.
Get rid of the mandate that Dr.s must pay for Liability Insurance. It's killing off general practitioners.
Government should not be in the health care industry period.
What, so a doctor can remove your good kidney and leave you with the bad one, then declare bankruptcy or claim corporate immunity and walk away?
No, that's not being dramatic. That exact example could and would happen.
- Aug 4, 2009
- 281,171
- 140,790
- 2,615
Universal Healthcare
So your healthcare views line up the most with Newt's.
If you say so...
As it is, we pay more for healthcare and receive less than any other industrialized nation. Mostly because politicians of both parties are primarily interested in protecting insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, doctors and lawyers
Skull Pilot
Diamond Member
- Nov 17, 2007
- 45,446
- 6,163
- 1,830
The problem with health care as i see it is that it has become synonymous with health insurance.
health care is the actual services provided by medical professionals and health insurance is a contracted method of payment for said services.
To have true market influence on health care we first must separate health care from health insurance.
The cost of health care services should be given to all patients in a menu of sorts.
When a doctor recommends services the patient should be able to shop around for the best price.
Then and only then will we see market control drive down health care costs. Under the current system there is no control in the hands of the consumer and total control is vested in the insurance companies.
It is the fatal flaw of our system.
health care is the actual services provided by medical professionals and health insurance is a contracted method of payment for said services.
To have true market influence on health care we first must separate health care from health insurance.
The cost of health care services should be given to all patients in a menu of sorts.
When a doctor recommends services the patient should be able to shop around for the best price.
Then and only then will we see market control drive down health care costs. Under the current system there is no control in the hands of the consumer and total control is vested in the insurance companies.
It is the fatal flaw of our system.
- Thread starter
- #19
Universal Healthcare
So your healthcare views line up the most with Newt's.
If you say so...
As it is, we pay more for healthcare and receive less than any other industrialized nation. Mostly because politicians of both parties are primarily interested in protecting insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, doctors and lawyers
Pay more and receive less, which is why radical change is needed.
When costs need to be brought down and efficiency needs to be increased, the last place I'd want to turn is gov't.
RDD_1210
Forms his own opinions
- May 13, 2010
- 18,981
- 1,817
- 265
What value does health insurance offer in the health care equation? It's the interjection of health insurance companies and their need to satisfy investors and turn a profit that has helped to destroy the health care system in this country. Profit can only be made when less money is paid out than is put in. That means Americans are paying more for their insurance than they are receiving back in actual healthcare. Eliminate or greatly reduce health insurance in the healthcare process and you go a long way to solving the problem.
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