Here's my idea for making real, lasting, effective changes
to the US Healthcare system:
The law should state that all US citizens receive baseline
health coverage - meaning all citizens, from birth, would be entitled to basic
health services. Vaccines and well visits as recommended for infants and
children by the World Health Organization or similar body, one physical exam
every year for adults, one prophylactic dental visit, and one eye exam for
everyone. That should just be standard practice for everyone who is a lawful
citizen of the United States.
On top of that, the government should require insurance
providers to provide some very basic, bare-bones insurance plans at an
affordable rate. They can cover very minimal things like a single emergency
room visit per year. An additional dental visit. $100 toward glasses/contacts.
Stuff like that. Obviously, if it's inexpensive it won't provide much, but it
should provide something if people are paying for it. The insurance companies
can have tiers for these public plans that are more basic and less expensive
than their private plans. That payment should also include some sort of health
savings account, again this can be tiered up as the premiums for some plans
with more coverage would be more expensive. Some portion of that premium should
go into an account that never expires, but can be used for any medical expenses
incurred that aren't covered by the policy itself. This way, a struggling young
family doesn't have to borrow money should a child require emergency medical
treatment for things like broken bones etc.
No American should have to choose between going without a
much-needed procedure and going without a home. I understand that medical care
is expensive, but why can't hardworking Americans get a payment plan to pay off
that $1,000 ER visit? If the government fronts the bill, or a big portion of it
so the citizen can get his/her care and then comes up with a manageable payment
plan for the remainder, wouldn't that make for a better outcome than death or
homelessness? If the citizen doesn't pay, as agreed, garnish their wages, withhold
their tax refund, take it from their health savings account payment, there are
options. Most people actually want to pay their bills. This law should continue
to restrict insurance companies from refusing coverage to those with
preexisting conditions. It should continue to allow children to be on their
parent's policy until the age of 26. It should get rid of that damn Healthcare
Exchange. That seems pointless to me, but maybe that's where people would go to
buy the basic public plans I previously mentioned. I don't know, but I trust
you to make an appropriate and well-informed decision on that.
To fund this law, you use whatever methods you're currently
using, but maybe combine this plan with Medicare, get rid of Medicaid, and
whatever funding stream funds those programs can be added to the appropriation
for this. I don't know. What I do know is that this healthcare thing doesn't
have to be as difficult as partisan politics are making it. We live in an
embarrassingly wealthy country. We can afford to help people see a doctor.
Just think of all the money that would be saved by keeping
people healthy rather than the expense of treating people who are already ill.
Another benefit would be keeping people out of homelessness, as well as
reducing financial strain due to medical bills and thereby reducing the stress
levels of people in these situations. Unstressed workers are more productive.
That's a boost to the economy. With all the people actually seeking treatment
instead of waiting for their health to worsen, there will be a greater demand
for health professionals - again, a boost to the economy.
Since we're talking about healthcare, let's talk about the
VA for a minute. It's a mess. Veterans sacrifice too much for their country and
this is how we repay them? Fix it. Why aren't all VA medical centers on the
same network? Why is it that if a vet goes from one VA hospital to another, the
new hospital can't look in their system and pull the patient's health records?
Why does it take 975 years to get an appointment? Why can't vets just get a
card that tells the medical community, "I'm covered" so they can go
somewhere else when the VA is backed up? Every doctor's office in the country
with more than 1 doctor should be required to accept vets unless there's a VA
within 40 miles. Period. Do that. Our soldiers shouldn't survive war just to
come home and die in a waiting room, or worse, while waiting for their
appointment. Same goes for the mental health providers - all of them should
accept our vets. Just like doctors and hospitals bill Medicare, they should be
able to bill the VA if a vet walks in the door for treatment. That damn sure
isn't difficult. Make it happen.
Thank you,
Concerned citizen.
