I read elsewhere a few months ago that solutions like this will force people to travel less for fear of getting hurt while being too far away from their covered hospital.
-PJ
How do they answer that for HMO-type plans that have limited coverage areas, right now?
I think that's the role of a good insurance company...they can direct your dollars to where you want to go (or need to go, if you're away from home)...
Which is not to say that all insurers are equal, but I do not foresee a system of insular single entity hospital care/insurance provider collectives ending well for consumers OR their doctors...
Why can't we just have health savings accounts, free-market access to insurers (across state lines, etc.), and at least general information published about pricing for services? and a "cash option"?
you could have agreements between hospitals that each would take the others members similar to how colleges have agreements to allow the children of employees to attend tuition free often have agreements with other colleges to take their employees kids in exchange.
You are probably screwed.
It will just increase the dynamism. The more choice, the better. Healthcare mavens will solve the information overload, just like they do with travel and everything else. Why shouldn’t a pharmacist be able to prescribe? Why not a nurse? Why not a patient? Most drugs aren’t addictive or in the illicit drug trade.
They will not be allowed to sell the plans unless emergent treatment (strict legal definition) is covered at any hospital in the U.S., just like any other plan sold today.