So we should accept the premise that it is the federal government's job to "help" people obtain health coverage, right?
Getting rid of Obamacare just means insurance is returned to the purview of the state insurance commissioners.
Good. I have no problem with states like MA or CA creating their own mini-Obamacares. Let the states take care of the poor or whatever. I just don't want it federalized.
Good. I have no problem with states like MA or CA creating their own mini-Obamacares. Let the states take care of the poor or whatever. I just don’t want it federalized.>>> it is federalized as a tax benefit to companies and not individuals. lose job lose insurance, and i was in chemo, etc. That needs to be handled. and FDIC type private risk pool would help. fed tax free hsa. etc. in a real world the fed would not be able to take my wages. and the fed would not be allowed to print fiat script. this is a hard row to hoe.
so...maybe something like this?
1. All medic-aid program enrollments are hereby frozen.
2. Medic-aid enrollees have worse medical outcomes than privately insured patients because of lack of availability of doctors accepting medic-aid. Inadequate medic-aid reimbursements to providers results in ‘cost-shifting’ which is the most important factor of higher premiums. Therefore, the total of medic-aid enrollees will be reduced to no larger than 1/5th the population of the workforce, children excluded. Programs will be funded via block grants. Block grants for 2017 will equal 3/4ths of 2016 levels and reduced in similar increments until the enrollee goal is achieved.
3. All federal subsidies, credits or any other form of federal subsidizing of health insurance premiums are hereby revoked.
4. Individual federal tax deductions for covered and uncovered medical services, long-term care and insurance premiums are hereby revoked.
5. As the traditional regulator of insurance, States will establish insurance pools, and will designate carriers and services permitted to conduct business in that state. Each pool may have standards. State underwriters may move the insured from one pool to another without prior notice as treatment history warrants. States who contract with less than 3 insurance carriers will apply to the US Attorney General for a waiver, providing justification. Individuals may purchase across state lines but only from a carrier that is licensed to do business in their own state.
6. Independent group pools for non-profit, for-profit, state and county employee and independent groups of any sort are no longer permitted. High-risk states, (i.e., Alaska, Vermont, Wyoming) may form a joint pool.
7. All policies, including Cadillac and catastrophic plans, must be purchased using the individual’s social security number. Enrollment will be limited to an ‘open season.’ Those choosing to opt out will be required to sign an notarized acknowledgement of the right of the State to sieze assets if uninsured care is sought.
8. States may sieze the assets and estates upon death of any uninsured or insured individual sufficient to reimburse the State for unpaid costs incurred or submitted by a state-approved provider, including administrative costs involved. Estates are prohibited from deducting siezed funds or assets from federal tax returns.
9. Providers who claim unpaid services will submit claims to the State who will reimburse the provider from the asset siezure fund. Related tax credits for providers previously used to write off such losses on federal tax returns are revoked.
10. All stock trading, commmon and preferred, and all pension fund trading in insurance and service provider related futures is hereby frozen for 90 days, subject to extension, to prevent stock market destabilization as states establish their pools and accomplish enrollments.
People have no idea how Medicaid works. It’s rationing.
If I’m on Medicaid because I’m forced to have insurance and can’t afford to pay for the outrageously expensive bare minimum plan because the insurers all pulled out of the market except one or two, then I’m forbidden to use my HSA at 99% of the doctors or specialists who don’t accept Medicaid.
The few doctors who take Medicaid aren’t doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. They’re the screw ups. Multiple offenders just shy of getting their licenses revoked. Or they don’t want the overhead dealing with multiple insurers, and practice in a low income or rural area.
What “letting it collapse” will do is implement the same exact thing for Medicare patients. You’ll make an appointment to see your doctor (three month wait), and by the time the appointment rolls around, you’ll show up to see he/she doesn’t accept Medicare or any of your Med Supp plans. And due to regulations, you can’t even pay cash for the appointment. Your care will be denied right at the reception desk. because no doctor or medical group will risk those fines.
When you take away the financial incentive to practice medicine, you also take away the right of the practitioner to set or adjust pricing. That power is in the insurance companies who will lower reimbursements and continue to jack up premiums and deductibles.