Yes, Mr. President: A Free Market Can Fix Health Care

[bytor2112]

In March 2009, President Barack Obama said, "If there is a way of getting this done where we're driving down costs and people are getting health insurance at an affordable rate, and have choice of doctor, have flexibility in terms of their plans, and we could do that entirely through the market, I'd be happy to do it that way." This paper explains how letting workers control their health care dollars and tearing down regulatory barriers to competition would control costs, expand choice, improve health care quality, and make health coverage more secure.

First, Congress should give Medicare enrollees a voucher and the freedom to choose any health plan on the market. Vouchers would be means-tested, would contain Medicare spending, and are the only way to protect seniors from government rationing.

Second, to give workers control over their health care dollars, Congress should reform the tax treatment of health care with "large" health savings accounts. Large HSAs would reduce the number of uninsured Americans, would free workers to purchase secure health coverage from any source, and would effectively give workers a $9.7 trillion tax cut without increasing the federal budget deficit.

To read more.....

[anatess]

I'm a huge fan of the HSA.

[Traveler]

There already is a free market health care available. Many USA doctors have left the USA high cost of operation and legal system and set up shop just across the border in Mexico. Currently a person can fly into Arizona and drive across the border to a clinic to obtain either dental, vision or general medical care (major procedures) and recover in facilities there all for a total cost (including transportation) that is less than the total cost of a year of health insurance in the USA. Granted this does not cover all major health care concerns such as cancer or heart replacements but a lot of procedures are available.

Currently a citizen in say New York can purchase catastrophic health coverage for all the procedures not available in Mexico. They could have regular checkup with their doctor and pay cash – which in many cases is about the same as a co-payment required with insurance – but because it is in cash the doctors have no paper work and it saves them a lot of money is staff and time. Then if there are any issues to be addressed the person from New York can book a “medical vacation” in Mexico (which if done correctly with their accountant – can be deducted off their income tax). All this for less than a total cost of health insurance in the good old USA.

Mostly it is the small business owners that are currently taking advantage of this because they must pay the total cost for their health insurance that can easily be as high as $2,000 per month. The other thing on the plus side about this is that if a person has reasonable good health and lives a healthy life style of good food and exercise they may not need health care for 95% of their life – what a savings. If this savings was place in to a true retirement investment, during a lifetime this would be all that was needed to retire in the upper 10% retirement income bracket. What a deal!! Granted there is a little extra paper work for new born babies of foreign soil to insure citizenship but that is a very minor concern.

BTW – it is my understanding that outside of illegal stuff this is the fastest growing industry currently feeding the Mexican society.

The Traveler

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by bytor2112

To read more.....

I thought we weren't supposed to start any political threads about Obama?

Was that rule lifted? Did I miss it?

Elph

[bytor2112]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

I thought we weren't supposed to start any political threads about Obama?

Was that rule lifted? Did I miss it?

Elph

Is this thread about Obama? Or is it about health care? Did I miss it?

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by bytor2112

Is this thread about Obama? Or is it about health care? Did I miss it?

It's about both. The title refers to Mr. President, and then the beginning of the article quotes him. Next, Mr. Cannon explains why President Obama is wrong.

I have no problem with the thread. I just thought it fell under the "no politics" rule.

Elphaba

Update: Okay, I just read it again, and Mr. Cannon does not disagree with President Obama. My bad.

[bytor2112]

Originally Posted by Elphaba

It's about both. The title refers to Mr. President, and then the beginning of the article quotes him. Next, Mr. Cannon explains why President Obama is wrong.

I have no problem with the thread. I just thought it fell under the "no politics" rule.

Elphaba

Update: Okay, I just read it again, and Mr. Cannon does not disagree with President Obama. My bad.

What do you think about the ideas?

[jadams_4040]

Originally Posted by bytor2112

To read more.....

We need healthcare for all americans; How many billions each year are thrown out the window because of no money emergency room visits?
How much money does this cost the taxpayers each year, How many people die {122 a day} because of no insurance, How many millions do the insurance companies spend to "lobby" our congress to do things there way, just a couple excamples. senator evan byah, just made 500.000 from health insurance this last election, joe liebermans wife made 2 million dollars in two years, {06-08} from an "appointed" position in the healthcare industry, just about every senator and congressman in d,c left or right has made millions from them. It simply amazes me how many americans dont have even a clue to the facts of the money trail, both legal and immoral, and how evil our politicians and insurance c.e.os are.

[Palerider]

Originally Posted by jadams_4040

We need healthcare for all americans; How many billions each year are thrown out the window because of no money emergency room visits?
How much money does this cost the taxpayers each year, How many people die {122 a day} because of no insurance, How many millions do the insurance companies spend to "lobby" our congress to do things there way, just a couple excamples. senator evan byah, just made 500.000 from health insurance this last election, joe liebermans wife made 2 million dollars in two years, {06-08} from an "appointed" position in the healthcare industry, just about every senator and congressman in d,c left or right has made millions from them. It simply amazes me how many americans dont have even a clue to the facts of the money trail, both legal and immoral, and how evil our politicians and insurance c.e.os are.

would you care to share where you get this info you mention??? then again I have not seen you post many references in the past..

[ferretrunner]

Originally Posted by Traveler

There already is a free market health care available. Many USA doctors have left the USA high cost of operation and legal system and set up shop just across the border in Mexico. Currently a person can fly into Arizona and drive across the border to a clinic to obtain either dental, vision or general medical care (major procedures) and recover in facilities there all for a total cost (including transportation) that is less than the total cost of a year of health insurance in the USA. Granted this does not cover all major health care concerns such as cancer or heart replacements but a lot of procedures are available.

Currently a citizen in say New York can purchase catastrophic health coverage for all the procedures not available in Mexico. They could have regular checkup with their doctor and pay cash – which in many cases is about the same as a co-payment required with insurance – but because it is in cash the doctors have no paper work and it saves them a lot of money is staff and time. Then if there are any issues to be addressed the person from New York can book a “medical vacation” in Mexico (which if done correctly with their accountant – can be deducted off their income tax). All this for less than a total cost of health insurance in the good old USA.

Mostly it is the small business owners that are currently taking advantage of this because they must pay the total cost for their health insurance that can easily be as high as $2,000 per month. The other thing on the plus side about this is that if a person has reasonable good health and lives a healthy life style of good food and exercise they may not need health care for 95% of their life – what a savings. If this savings was place in to a true retirement investment, during a lifetime this would be all that was needed to retire in the upper 10% retirement income bracket. What a deal!! Granted there is a little extra paper work for new born babies of foreign soil to insure citizenship but that is a very minor concern.

BTW – it is my understanding that outside of illegal stuff this is the fastest growing industry currently feeding the Mexican society.

The Traveler

Not everyone can get vacation time to travel to Mexico or afford the travel expenses. As for people not needing health care for 95% of their lives- what about preventative medicine. You know, the "woman's yearly" exam? The male's prostrate exam? What about me wiping out my bicycle and tearing my ACL? No insurance? HUUUGGGE medical bill with the MRI, ortho surgeon consult, and physical therapy. Not to mention the ambulance. None of whic would be covered by catastrophic insurance. So, I break an arm tripping on the stairs and I have to go to Mexico for my health care? I don't think this is a realistic solution. And you're talking about one trip being less than a year's insurance- does that include lost wages if you don't get paid for sick time? What about if you need more than one trip a year?

HSAs are a good suplmentary idea. There are a couple major drawbacks, though. If you misjudge and end up not saving enough, you could be in trouble. On the other hand, if you can't spend all of it, you loose the money. It doesn't roll over. It's hard to judge how much you'll end up spending in health care. Two years ago, I made more insurance claims and spent more money after the bike accident. My HSA was not nearly enough to cover it. But... last year, I spent significantly less, so I would have lost all the money I didn't spend if I increased my HSA based on the previous year's expenses. How much money should a person put into the HSA to pay for all their health care costs? $200/$300 a month, in case? Ok, now I have $200- $300 a month less to pay the rest of my bills. Money I will loose if I don't use. Whereas my insurance premium is much less.