As an alternative to the massive 2700+ page ObamaCare Socialization Bill now winding its way through the bowels of Congress, here is a one page bill that would actually make changes to encourage competition, reduce costs and improve service.
Of course, this makes no sense if your real objective is to have the Federal Govt control 1/6 of the US economy and increase their control of an individual's life and behavior.
1. Congress will amend the McCarran-Ferguson Act to allow interstate competition in health insurance. This will eliminate the anti-trust exemption for insurance and create competition among the nearly 1300 insurance firms for consumer's business in all 50 states.
2. State regulation of insurance companies should reside in the state of the insurance company's home office. This will encourage insurance companies to incorporate in the state(s) with the least regulations allowing them to provide more responsive, market based products and services.
3. Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover. These mandates have increased the cost of health insurance by billions of dollars. What is insured and what is not insured should be determined by individual customer preferences and not through special-interest lobbying.
4. Congress will enact tort reform to limit damages in medical malpractice suits to actual damages. This will reduce the amount of redundant medical tests and procedures done by doctors in order to have evidence they "did everything possible" in case of a malpractice suit.
5. Congress will equalize the tax laws so that employer-provided health insurance and individually owned health insurance have the same tax benefits. This will encourage and permit many more people to purchase personal insurance policies which will then not be tied to their employer and will be portable from job to job.
6. Remove the legal obstacles that slow the creation of high-deductible health insurance plans and health savings accounts (HSAs). HSAs should have no maximum, accumulate/roll over year to year and become an asset that can become part of an individual's estate. This will encourage consumers to shop wisely for medical services and reward them by letting them keep any unused HSA money from year to year and become part of their estate.
7. Repeal government mandates regarding what insurance companies must cover. These mandates have increased the cost of health insurance by billions of dollars. What is insured and what is not insured should be determined by individual customer preferences and not through special-interest lobbying.
8. Either create a Govt web site or encourage private firms - like Edmunds for cars - to show consumers the comparable cost and coverage of various Health Ins firms policies. Make costs transparent so that consumers understand what health-care treatments cost.
9. Revise tax forms to make it easier for individuals to make a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to help the millions of people who have no insurance and aren’t covered by Medicare, Medicaid or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
10. Provide Federal Funds to States specifically to increase the size of "high risk pools" for individuals with pre-existing conditions.
11. Reduce regulations on insurance companies.They should be not be regulated more than any other firm or industry. Eliminate the almost utility-like stranglehold of regulations on the healthcare industry which increases costs, and decreases efficiency and market responsiveness.
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