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DallasDoc's inspired me. If his idea can gain legislative traction (sure, sure, it's just an air quote Coincidence air quote), then why not mine? Of course, the answer would be because his is good and mine is not, but, hey, nothing ventured...
If no Public Option, then that would Trigger the following being put into place by way of Federal Legislation (i.e., a Bill signed into Law by the President):
1. Health Insurance Companies will be allowed to do business in any one, or combination of, Ten (10), Five-State Health Insurance Blocks that will cover the United States (with DC and the territories belonging to their closest geographic Block).
Please continue on...
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2. Each Insurer will offer basic-but-comprehensive health insurance for any adult who wants it for $100.00/month with a $20 co-pay ceiling. Two-person families can get the same deal for $150.00/month. Three-or-more person families: $250/month. Employers will receive a corresponding tax deduction for any $ they contribute to an employee's policy. "Extra service" policies for higher amounts may be also be offered (for, say, elective or cosmetic surgery).
3. There will be no "doctor networks" as they are currently known; all licensed health care professionals will automatically be "within the network" (you want to talk about allowing people to choose their own doctor? Well, o.k., you've got it).
4. The insurance card from any Block will be honored, no questions asked, in any other Block.
5. People who fall between any gaps (i.e., too high an income for Medicaid but not enough to pay the $100.00/month or co-pays) may apply for Federal Assistance -- waivers of the fees/premiums, which will then be reimbursed to the Companies.
6. Incidents of fraud, waste or abuse of the system will carry heavy criminal sanctions, including against the Boards of Directors of any corporate violators. As there would be a schedule of guaranteed health care services (that will not differ from Block-to-Block), an Insurance Company would be strictly liable (civilly) for treble damages for the first instance of denial of any claim for any of those services. Multiple denials or instances of making insureds wait an unreasonably long time for approval of costs of treatment, would be Fraud, waste or abuse and subject the offending company to a range of punishments, from fines, to pulling their license to do business to, as mentioned, criminal sanctions for its Board of Directors.
7. Public Option Health Insurance will be provided only in that/those Block(s) wherein the population is underserved by Private, For-Profit Health Insurance providers.
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The $100, $150, $250 numbers are what I came up with as reasonable, but others here may have better ideas.
There, no "Public Option" to speak of. As the GOP and their Health Insurance Masters desire, we'll do this only by way of regulation and overhauling of the current system.
BenGoshi
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