UNCOMMON COMMON SENSE

For People Who Think

HEALTH CARE REFORM

For the next few weeks the topic de jour will be Health Care Reform. So I thought a few good talking points might be useful especially if its helps you to get on the phone to your congressman and let them know what you think. And that you will remember how they voted come 2010 and 2012

OUTSIDE THE BOX THINKING

#1 COST REDUCTION AND/OR CONTAINMENT:

In order to accomplish that, we must first determine the heart of the problem which is THE THIRD PARTY PAYER SYSTEM and the huge Bureaucracy’s that go along with it, that we are currently using: Which gives people the feeling that they are entitled to the best of everything; after all they think that they have paid a lot of money in FICA taxes and insurance: That plus the fact that only a Free Market Capitalist system that plays too rather than against basic human nature, can achieve a more efficient and therefore a reduced cost system.

COMPETITION: Improves service and reduces costs. The one Free Market system that I can think of is one based on Medical Savings Accounts (MSA)

# 2 MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS (MSA) are the one Free Market System that makes sense. MSA would be based on a $10,000 or $15,000(per year) deductible in conjunction with a government provided CATASTROPHIC MINIMUM INSURANCE policy with absolutely NO Bells and Whistles that would insure everyone with a Social Security number including children: Protecting everybody against sudden serious illnesses or accidents. (80% of the 50 million uninsured are in the 18 to 34 low risk age group, who choose NOT to buy insurance, even though it is available at low cost, would be obliged to buy the minimum and contribute to their MSA: After all it is a retirement plan should they never get seriously ill.

Each Individual would contribute $2000 a year into his MSA which would be invested into 6% Treasuries. Any monies not spent on health care would be theirs to keep and is left to their heirs upon death. Eliminating poverty in the USA within 50 years: Something that Presidents Johnson’s $13 trillion WAR AGAINST POVERY has not been able to accomplish.

Reduced Costs; Now that the first monies spent would be coming out of the patients own pocket, they won’t be so quick to order every test and procedure under the sun 2 or 4 times a year just because they can get it.. Nor would they be in such a rush to run to the doctor not required checkups or emergency room for minor scrapes and colds. Nor would seniors be demanding new hips or new knees so quickly if they knew that the money would be coming out of their Children’s or grandchildren’s pockets

But the Biggest cost savings would come from consumers shopping and bargaining for services now that the consumers will be paying out of his own pockets and making decisions for themselves in conjunction with their doctor: NO BOARDS OF APPROVAL NECESSARY.

# 3 Each individual would then also have the option of BUYING PRIVATE INSURANCE from the present 1300 insurance companies who would vie with each other in offering various plans with varying degrees of costs and benefits above the Barest Minimum Plan offered by the Government..

NOTE ; To make the whole plan especially more attractive to the People and put pressure on the Congress and President, THIS PLAN WOULD REPLACE Congress’ present plan and make the politician equal with the people they are supposed to serve. They would of course have the choice to buy the plan with the most Bells and Whistles but they would have to pay for that out of their own pocket (fat chance of that happening but it sure sounds good like they are sacrificing along with everyone else) The key is that individuals could buy the exact same plan that Congress would have and at the same price

# 4 To make the system work and to encourage the individual to shop for their services (since the 1st $10,000 or $15,000 would coming out of his own pocket or Medical Savings Account), every doctor, hospital or any other service provider must post a Menu (just like restaurants are forced to do) of all service costs broken down into both an A LA CARTE menu as well as Comprehensive Cost for complete procedures. That way, a patient can just walk through the halls of medical buildings and shop. For elective procedures the patient could take their time and also bargain with the provider

WHO PAYS ?

Initially we will leave that up to Congress. But since it would be a Free Market System with only a minimal bureaucracy; even if the government ended up paying the full amount total costs would be drastically reduced. Later if somehow it is combined with INCOME TAX REFORM, then that problem of who pays for the poor would be taken care of by a deduction from the amount of the Negative Income Tax portion of the Flat Tax or Fair Tax Reform Package. (too much to ask for initially) and can easily be explained if and when the time comes.

QUESTION and COMMENTS:

If there are any questions and/or Comments both negative or positive send them on to me or call and I will do my best to answer them and or modify the proposal accordingly.

NOTE: Right now many Doctors are refusing to accept new Medicare or Medicaid patients because the governments does not pay enough and they don’t have enough regular patients so that the costs to non Government paid services cab be increased to make up the Difference.

If you want to know what a Government System would look like study the VA. Or Medicare or Medicaid they are all bankrupt even though some of their costs are reduced by overcharging other regularly insured and non-insured patients.

THE REAL QUESTION IS: What makes you think that by making Health care into a national government program that covers everyone instead of just the aged that it would suddenly become cheaper and more efficient than Medicare and be able to pay for itself as our population ages?

Dr. Aubie Baltin

uncommon@AubieBaltin.com

561-840-9767