There are better alternatives to a government-run healthcare system
Now that the “People’s Revolt” has reached Massachusetts with the election of Scott Brown as Senator, a sensible Health Care alternative plan must be found. Please take a look at how AMAC’s plan compares to the other proposals.
The AMAC solution provides changes in our Health Care System that will result in all citizens being covered. It lowers the cost of medical care and does so within the free enterprise system. It will cost approximately one-fifth (1/5th) of the cost of the plans presently being proposed in Congress.
There are five points to the plan.
First, the plan is administered by the states using their already existing Departments of Insurance. No need to create eighty plus new government bureaucracies, as proposed in House and Senate bills. The already existing National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) will create uniform regulations to govern health insurance programs. Exceptions would be allowed in certain states.
Second, coverage will be required for all, phased in over a four year period. Individuals would receive tax incentives to help pay the cost. Those eligible for group insurance would be required to join the plan and employers would pay a portion of the premium. Tax credits would be given to employers according to a schedule. A “basic” low cost plan would be available for low income households.
Third, pre-existing medical conditions would be covered. Insurance plans could not stop payments because of use of the plans.
Fourth, costs would be reduced by: Reforming medical malpractice lawsuits, establishing peer approved practice protocols to reduce unnecessary tests, allowing incentives to be paid to those who uncover Medicare and Medicaid fraud, encouraging hospitals to review management of their operations and finances (share cost saving ideas) and encouraging competition between providers of medical devices. Further cost reductions can be achieved by providing incentives for the free market to expand its role. For example, open low cost medical clinics (for minor illnesses) in stores like Wal-Mart, Sears, and drug stores. This has already been started by some stores that offer very low prices for generic drugs.
Fifth, achieve massive savings from the Federal government by reducing its size. As a start, six to eight of the Departments of the U.S. Government will be eliminated and merged into existing Departments. The funds saved would be put into a separate account to be used to help defray the costs of health care. Likewise all government programs would be reviewed with an eye to eliminate or greatly reduce costs during this time of economic crisis. If we are to provide quality health care for all our citizens, we have got to start making serious decisions.
Click HERE for a side-by-side comparison highlighting some of the key differences between the various health care proposals.
Editors note: It has been brought to our attention that the word "mandated" appears in several parts of
the plan and the comparison that follows. The authors wish you to know that there are several options
available to avoid these "mandates". They will be discussed and input sought prior to adoption of the
plan.
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I think a free market approach is the best way. A voucher system for seniors to purchase the plan they see fit for themselves. If they spend less then the voucher they can keep the cash. Also I believe seniors should be able to opt out of medicare if they choose. Right now the Goverment sets the prices for 1/2 the healthcare sector directly and the other indirectly. Gov. regulation controls production and consumption. I would like to see a true free market system to drive actuall cost down. It is worth a try. And any regulations be done by States and not the federal government. Opening up purchasing power across state lines is a must. And even practitioner liciencing across state lines is a good idea for true market competition. Reforming liciencing and tort reform would greatly reduce cost. If the free market drove prices and not Gov. regulations and bureaucrats there would be afordable plans for everyone. Also another reason for high cost healthcare is over consumption because of the third party pay system and Doctors practicing defencive medicine. I think if people had to pay some cost up front and then be reimbursed by insurance it would stop a lot of over utilization. Also if we had a true free market system and deregulated you would find a lot more clinics and charitable healthcare facilities.
I agree with your plan EXCEPT for telling everyone they need health insurance. Insurance is legalized gambling, you bet one way when you buy it, you bet the other when you don’t. Those that do not buy it though must realize that they can lose everything if/when they get seriously sick. Offering a low cost catastrophic plan is best idea, but not a must buy option! Defend the constitution and states rights!
Now that we know the individuals in Congress who, with a 50.8% majority have shackled 100% of Americans with ObamaCare, we need to remember in 8 months to Get Them Out of Our House (GOOOH). Don’t let the apathy of most Americans to forget what has been done to them.
As far as the auto insurance argument goes, you are driving a 2,000 lb machine that can kill people. Of course you need auto insurance, in case something goes wrong. Also, car insurance is a state mandated issue and if you’re not engaged in the activity of driving a car, you don’t need to buy it. Lawmakers can’t compel you to engage in an activity then charge you for it.
What would be the penalty for not signing up for the health insurance? A fine or jail time? I vehemently oppose the notion that I must pay a fee or enter into a contract to live in the U.S. or face jail time or a fine. I know the plan is contingent on people complying, thus adding revenue to pay for these plans, but to have to buy a good or a service in order to live “freely” in the U.S. grates on my last nerve. I would refuse to comply, thus clogging up the courts system then others of my mindset join in. Why not just have everyone pay a fee when they go to the doctor, above their insurance copay to help pay for this? If you don’t have insurance, you still have to pay a fee. $20.00 or so. Not too expensive but everyone paying in would be contributing and for those without insurance it would make the notion of “free” healthcare a thing of the past and doctor visits something not to be abused.
I really want to support an alternative to the monstrosity that Obama et al just forced on us. I have one objection to your proposed plan: people would still be forced to buy insurance. I believe that is unconstitutional in the case of Obamacare, and it appears that your plan has the same flaw. I don’t know what the solution is – I’m just asking for reform that respects the constitution.
I am opposed to forcing one to buy insurance. If I don’t believe in modern medicine, the cost is a fine, for I am getting nothing from it. RIGHT? I don’t believe it is constitutionally permissible.
I also believe that govt is going about it all wrong, as you cannot possibly make such sweeping changes AND keep control of spending. Ask any corporation! But of course the sweeping part is exactly what OBAMA wants.
GOD HELP US!
The huge thing you brought up is to have low cost clinics in drug stores or as standalone businesses. In Oklahoma there are many such clinics and it makes perfect sense. You don’t need to go to the hospital for a fever. You don’t need to go to the hospital for three stitches. Back in the day, the doctor could handle that, and if we had walk-in clinics, that would eliminate the abuse the emergency rooms suffer from minor ailments coming in constantly. Surely there is a way that clinics could be subsidized without adding five more layers of bureacracy. This would have to be cheaper for the taxpayer.
I have to say i am impressed with your ideas. I can’t for the life of me understand people that can’t see that having more hands in the pie (IRS, govt etc) costs more and reduces the amount of pie!!!
The only thing you didn’t mention, and I have talked to my doctors about this is for all medical insurance companies to be required to limit form changes, or be required to adopt a universal form for all companies. My surgeon has 8 people just to do the paperwork for 3 surgeons. He said it is because of the insurance company forms which all differ and then the companies will change their own forms 2 or 3 times per year so you are always trying to learn the latest forms. That’s stupid and a waste of time!
I would like to see the country revolt — everyone stop federal withholding for a month starting april 15. Maybe I am shortsighted, but would that get any ones’ attention? Or is Obama just too ignorant and cocky to think anyone knows anything?
The health care bill is NOT A BOX OF CHOCOLATES AND I AM NOT FORREST GUMP. I know we all expect a butter cream but we will be getting CRAP.
Comrade Obama and his Socialist Democrats are not interested in Health Care for Americans. It’s all about power and control of all America. This health bill is just the beginning, next is “amnesty” for the 25 million illegals in the U.S., so they can vote for Obama in the 2012 presidential election. The bottom line is Obama is a Marxist and is surrounded by a staff of Communists. He should be impeached and put in prison with the rest of his White House thugs. He, Pelosi and Reid along with other Socialist Democrats are “traitors” to the U.S. Constitution and the United States of America.
AMAC, can you get these idea’s to the house and Senate, as soon as possible, or do they already know about them?
You lost me when you REQUIRED everyone to purchase insurance. Nowhere does the Constitution give government the right to force me to purchase insurance. The problem today is not that some people don’t have medical insurance – but that medical care is simply not possible without it. We used to be able to go to the doctor and actually afford to pay for his service. The only insurance we needed was hospitalization, so that if someone was hospitalized, the insurance would pay a portion of the $100 per day that the hospital typically charged for the room. An overnight stay in a hospital today would cost many thousands of dollars – far exceeding the rise in the cost of living over the last 3 or 4 decades. Somehow we have to identify why medical costs have risen so astronomically in the last 30 years and address that problem instead of just blaming insurance companies. Insurance companies set their rates in response to rising medical costs – they are not responsible for medical costs. Tort reform is sorely needed, and in fact, medical cost reform is not possible without it. Additionally, we have to address the problem of illegal aliens – and not by just granting them amnesty.
I agree with AMAC proposals. Our government is full of greed, arrogance and totally does not get what the American people want. Cut the government jobs at the federal, state and local levels. Combine just like the private sector must do. Let the government people take cuts in their salaries and benefits. We are the government. We have long lived in indulgence and misspending and now it is at a point where it is so out of balance that our children and grandchildren will not have the country that was once great. We must stand up and pay the cost now so that future generations have quality of life in the United States of America. Do not take God out of the picture. As we do so, we get more out of balance. It is time to come back to the roots and work from that point. God have mercy on us.
Big government keep out of our personal decision making…They have never gotten right, look at current health care plans, Medicare, Medical and the Social Security Plan.
They just want another pocket to borrow from as with S.S. and it is currently bankrupt now from big government spending and should be addressed years ago and yet they do absolutely what they do best, Nothing at all!
Pelosi, Reid, Obama and acorn all benefit from these liberal socialized programs, Not the American People. We the People a government by the people for the people and by the people, Not Obama, Pelosi, Reid or Congress or Senate…We the people expect our Representatives to Represent us, not make our decisions and take our money…
The People have spoken and this Adminsitration does not listen and keeps telling the media what the Americans want according to what he wants, not what they truly want and that is hands off!
I am not in favor of any plan that mandates that one buy health insurance; it is unconstitutional. I would like to see coverage for major illnesses and accidents be covered under some type of insurance. The balance of healthcare would be paid by the individual according to what care is given. The cost of care would be reduced just by the elimination of paperwork the doctors and health care professionals would be required to perform. Remember the 1950′s when your family doctor was your doctor and could make a living and people could afford to go to the doctor?
How can I join a group the wants entitlements coverage for all is sociallism. Get a job and buy your own insureance.
No one speaks of the cost-shifting going on that drive up costs to private plans, making insurance unaffordable to individuals. The US government does not pay the “going rate” as the private and employer-sponsored plans do. This drives the cost up for individuals and non-government groups. Maybe it is time we stop the multi-tiered fees (depending on who is paying the bill) and we can then all afford insurance. I know one thing; people would be a lot more responsible with their health if their premiums were tied to their lifestyle choices than not.
Why does none of these proposals talk about alternatives. I am going to 55 years old and I do not take any medications. I pay for all of my alternatives that I use out of my pocket. Why don’t we start looking to educate people on how it is their responsibility to take control of their own health.
Taking a good multivitamin is the most basic that you can do. I have been taking supplements for over 15 years now and exercising and taking care of my health. We need to start educating people on what they can do besides just sitting back an expecting drugs to do the trick.
Until we start showing people at any age it is up to them to take control of their health we will never get healthcare costs down.
Health care is not taking drugs. Health care is taking care of yourself and doing the things you need to make sure your body stays healthy.
Prescriptions drugs and surgery should be the last resort.
We as a society think we can eat fast food all the time and take a pill and it is going to correct what is happening to us. Wrong, wrong, wrong.
I also have to agree with why should someone have to buy insurance. Why should employers have to pay for a share. I think if an employee wants to pay for insurance they can but they should not have to.
We as a society think we are entitled to so many things. We have got to stop this thinking. We have got to start working together and realize it is up to us to take care of ourselves not the government.
If people understood high deductible insurances and HSA’s I think they would like that better. If saves the employer and the employee.
My company did that a year ago and now that I am layed off i still have that money in my HSA acct.
Again if people would take care themselves by eating healthier and supplementation the healthcare costs would not be as high. Also if the government would pay for less costly things such as alternatives instead trying to keep the doctors in business healthcare cost would go down.
Health care is not about doing the same things and taking a drug . It is about learning how to stay healthy and alternatives that are much better for you than drugs.
AMAC plan is not much improved over Obamacare. I do not want government telling me to buy insurance. Cost reduction is fine but I don’t believe it. Insurance is responsible for driving the cost up and making coverage into a application nightmare. Covering pre-existing conditions means more costly procedures at the expense of all of the people.
I think AMAC should rethink their whole plan and stop trying to apply socialistic principle to something that should be a free market commodity.
Why do Americans want to be ruled by a king, ie. dictator? If you say that everyone must do the same thing, you are advocating communism or at least a monarchy. Insurance is what has ruined the world, it is not the answer to anything. Make the doctors give up their mansions and riches and come back to earth. Obama and crew want all the doctor to join their corrupt lying organization. Amac is no better if you think communism is the answer.
I like. Bye bye AARP.
Would like to know more about your health insurance.
Thanks,
I cannot support any plan that mandates the purchasing of health insurance. The way to go is to allow out of state competition, tax deductable health savings accounts, allow self employed insurance premiums to be tax deductable on the Federal, State and local level, and have more pay out the pocket services. This is a start. The big thing is to keep government out of it.
How about encouraging high deductible/hsa for all.
Why merge the 6 departments? Simple elimination would be sufficient. What state doesn’t have a department of transportation, education, environmental quality etc. The only way to reduce the government is to completely eliminate this duplication of efforts,,,,it may also decrease the number and influence of lobbiests!!!
I like what I see with this plan, except for option 2. When did health insurance become a right and not a privalege. I understand that the uninsured are a burden on the present system but either way, reform or no reform, we (those that have insurance or pay our medical bill personally) are still footing the bill. What is the difference?
Its all about priorities and choices: freedom or mandates, “being taken care” of or “being self sufficient”. For all the folks who claim they can’t afford insurance, mostly they have just prioritized other items (big screen tvs, eating out, second cars) over health insurance. The truly poor already have Medicaid and CHIPs, do we really want to have another entitlement for the middle class, the cost of which will be either borrowed from our grandchildren and China, or paid for by inflating the currency? If we aren’t willing to pay for our choices by raising our taxes, we shouldn’t be making those choices.
Finally a proposal that I can whole-heartedly agree with. Keep at it.
Not a perfect plan but a great place to jump off and work from with input from both sides and with states in complete control of thier own individual plans.
Requiring coverage is not constitutional. Government, both state and federal, needs to get completely out of health care. Government, protect our borders, and let us, a free people, be free.
to bad politicians can’t read or won’t read, and do not listen when spoken to
I would be in favor of this plan
This is certainly an improvement over our goverment plans.
When I read AMAC’s ideas I was heartened. All of the things that the Obama administration mentions will cause so many beurocracies feeding at the public trough. I want to manage the money I earn and make it my choice how it is spent. If i find a group to do better they will have my business. We want to help those who cannot help themselves, but bill in congress right now encourages us all to be unfit workers with no control of our own destiny. NO,NO,NO.
Health care used to mean you went to the doctor down the street. And if you didn’t have money for that, you found a grandma to tell you what to do. This is all nonsense. and would you old people also insist that i should be jailed for trusting God with my health?
Sometimes I despaired of America ever regaining what we had but in reading these comments I see that many of you are aware of the corrupt mess. We don’t need Washington in charge of anything else, especially not our health care. Why do people think they’re entitled to free anything? While we’re reforming, how about Congress saving money for their retirement as we have to do. How about them losing their salary when they leave office? Who else works one term and retains their salaries for life? I’m sick of the employees making their own rules. This government is corrupt and I think impeachment would do a lot of good.
Glad you are forming an alternative to AARP. But I CAN NOT endorse your plan, either! Especially, Point #2, which will require everyone to carry health insurance. What don’t you understand about FREEDOM? This is part of the Constitutional issue with the bills in Congress right now. If the government can tell you, fine you, throw you in jail for not having health insurance, then government can tell you every other move you must make. Do you want Uncle Sam telling you that you must eat fish on Fridays, Chicken on Wednesdays, and Brussel Sprouts on Thursdays??
What is the difference?
And where is the money coming from for the tax incentives or financial help? Your point #2 is poorly conceived.
And point #5, while admirable, is a pipe-dream.
Congress is unlikely to cut the bureaucracy that it has created anymore than its own power or salary structure.
Keep working.
C’mon, who’s making this up? Nobody would really suggest something that makes sense! BTW, can you back up your financial projections? We demand that of the government, don’t we?
A careful reading of this plan shows it will keep private insurance as is, allow coverage across state lines, preserve Medicare and( based on the disclaimer from the authors) NOT make coverage Mandatory but induce the majority to be covered. A WIN, WIN, WIN for all but the socialists.
I am retired and have good insurance, as do many retirees. You will not find many retirees that would go from private insurance to government crap. You’d better re-work your program.
Your plan is much better. What about across state line option?
P.S also put it under state control.
This Plan is not a perfect plan but if OBAMA will SCRAPE thier present plan and introduct this Bill in it’s entirity and instruct the Democrat side to really become bi-partisan and listen to and work with the other side(instead of shutting them out) it could possibly be worked out so that we (the American People) could accept it.
I feel much more comfortable with the above plan. I am really fearful that the current Bill being pushed through would require everyone to have HC insurance. What a slap in the face of freedom and the Consitution. Great Points!
If you want to cover pre-exisiting conditions, then everyone must be covered. If you are not required to join, then you can just wait until you have cancer, and then go “oops, I guess I need health insurance now. Give me my money.”
Perhaps there are alternatives to this problem that has not gained traction yet, but this is why the mandated coverage for all exists in these plans.
Take the 20 to 30 million illegals out of the system and we would have low cost insurance. Let’s make this a mandate. We know why the politicians don’t want to – it amounts to votes!! Our country is being hi-jacked and all of our programs will be bankrupted if we don’t close our borders and send the illegals home! We would also save millions in Spanish speaking literature by the government not only with the health care services but in all departments.
Please all, understand that the the greatness of this country derives from liberty we share. Let’s let the same power of freedom solve our problems of expensive health insurance and, expensive health care. Let the market place, unencumbered by federal and state policies that limit innovation and competition, develop money making strategies and products that benefit us, the consumer of medical care and medical insurance. Have faith that all of us, working in and for our own individual self interest, will benefit society economically and spiritually.
I still have problems with it. Jesus said the poor would be with us always. This is a golden opportunity for us, INDIVIDUALLY, to get involved with these hurting people, if only we had enough money left over from everything government takes. Mandatory insurance is yet another bureaucracy that will be big, costly, inefficient and will promote delays. The entitlement mentality drives this kind of reasoning, expecting government to always take care of us. Even FDR said Social Security was not the end-all to retirement, merely a supplement that was supposed to get phased out at some time. Some programs are needed, no doubt. But then the ones who don’t really need help come looking, begging fraud to run rampant. If a program could be implemented on a city-wide level, that would be our best bet to break up the massive monster. But citizens of each city would need to come together to discover and create it, with some sensible controls in place to prevent opportunistic rovers to move to the “best” system. The solution lies with each city, village, with local people in other words, not with the government.
This does at least show there are far better ideas than the “OBAMA Care”. Now let’s keep a close eye on who the real fools are in “congress” and the “senate”, and “vote” them out of office.
What no special deals. no back rooms . IT WILL NEVER PASS