Posted on 09/05/2009 8:57:58 PM PDT by tjbandrowsky
In its essay "Lets Have It Out On Single Payer", the Treatyist argues that Republicans should go on the offensive on health care by introducing a comprehensive package to allow market forces to work in the health market. Democrats claim that the present health system is a free market failure. The fact is, the health insurance system is riddled with market distortions. Our free market plan is roughly as follows:
1. Get rid of non-risk "coverage" mandates that pervade health insurance. Health insurance should be for catastrophic risk. Routine medical visits and other "wellness" features belong in discount plans, not insurance policies.
2. Unlink health insurance from employers and move to individuals (change distorting taxes). Foster the creation of commodities markets that allow carriers to sell and consumers to buy insurance the same way coal is traded on nymex.
3. Allow for the creation of new financial instruments and markets to service planned health care expenditures. Having a baby? Why couldn't you tap the 401k? Why is income spent on vital health needs even recognized as taxable?
4. Make the AMA compete. Allow for other organizations to certify doctors or certify people to deliver specific medical services. Allow for accelerated citizenship for doctors immigrating to the USA.
The AMA doesn’t certify doctors. State medical boards do.
This line of thought has been much better expressed elsewhere.
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