My Healthcare Solution. 2 Parties, 2 Bills.

[Jaskalas]

Just a thought.

You can bring Republicans and Democrats together to pass healthcare reform. Just give them everything they BOTH want. Force the Republican’s hand by making them craft their own healthcare bill. Democrats should craft their own with NO compromises. Two distinct bills.

Then Congress should combine these two bills under a single rule: States get to hold an election and vote on which side of this legislation they want to be governed by. States can literally opt into either the Democrat or Republican healthcare plan. Popular vote wins on a state by state basis.

This would have incredible consequences. Such as being able to determine, years from now, which plan ended up better. With those facts in hand you could argue to nationalize the plan that worked best.

You can lead by example instead of with an iron first. You don’t have to force a diverse group of 300+ million people to live under the same exact laws. Unclench your fist and maybe we can find a peaceful way to resolve our differences by agreeing to disagree.

 

[JS80]

Why can't registered republicans have the republican plan, and registered democrats get to be in their own plan, and segregate and fund with separate accounts?

 

[Patranus]

Here is an idea....

You let each state decided what is good for it as that is the role of the state.

 

[Red Dawn]

Here is an idea....

You let each state decided what is good for it as that is the role of the state.

You live in CA right?

 

[MotF Bane]

Yahct.

 

[Argo]

I generally like the idea of having localized policies and programs, however in reality this might be very hard to implement.

Any nationalized healthcare system depends on taxes to pay for it. Since it won't be fair to use federal taxes to pay for state-wide healthcare system - you'll have to rely on state taxes. This in turn means that every state will need to draft its own version of the healthcare plan, accounting for potential increase in taxes as well as ways to prevent folks from neighboring states from abusing the system (I move to state B, use their healthcare then move back to my home state).

The more appropriate solution IMO would be to let each state to pass their own healthcare bill, and if needed use their local taxes to fund it. I generally think that is the great solution to most hot issues like abortion, gay marriage, etc. States and counties can pass their own ruling - and folks that are not happy with it have a choice to move out.

 

[Robor]

Here is an idea....

You let each state decided what is good for it as that is the role of the state.

Break up the union while you're at it.

 

[Ozoned]

Since the governments current health care plan is the one broken, why don't they just reform that?

 

[werepossum]

Just a thought.

You can bring Republicans and Democrats together to pass healthcare reform. Just give them everything they BOTH want. Force the Republican’s hand by making them craft their own healthcare bill. Democrats should craft their own with NO compromises. Two distinct bills.

Then Congress should combine these two bills under a single rule: States get to hold an election and vote on which side of this legislation they want to be governed by. States can literally opt into either the Democrat or Republican healthcare plan. Popular vote wins on a state by state basis.

This would have incredible consequences. Such as being able to determine, years from now, which plan ended up better. With those facts in hand you could argue to nationalize the plan that worked best.

You can lead by example instead of with an iron first. You don’t have to force a diverse group of 300+ million people to live under the same exact laws. Unclench your fist and maybe we can find a peaceful way to resolve our differences by agreeing to disagree.

That makes a lot of sense, but I'd expand it even more. Each state has to raise its own money, by whichever means it chooses. States that choose the Democrat single payer system can all band together to make one big system, funded by the health insurance taxes of those states, and will receive that money less federal administration costs (or a per-citizen share of the total, whichever the Democrats choose.) Maybe have an opt-out review every five years. States that prefer the Republican approach can form their own state single payer system like Oregon, or their own state-run insurance system like Massachusetts, or their own free market insurance/Medicare system like Tennessee - but they have to do something to cover everyone. Got illegals? Cover 'em or deport 'em, but you can't tolerate them and not cover them. Just as state governments require drivers to have insurance to protect other drivers from economic damage due to collisions, so to would they require everyone to have insurance to protect other people from economic damage due to sickness or injury. Opt out for religious reasons, but you get nothing but emergency care and the cost of that is recovered through garnishment or confiscation of property.

As the systems mature we can all compare to see whose works best. If the federal system provides better care for less money, more states will opt in, people will vote with their feet, companies will locate or relocate in states that suit their needs. If Tennessee's free market/Medicare system is providing worse bang for the buck, we can opt in to the Democrat's federal system or adopt an Oregon- or Massachusetts-like system. Each state could select that system that is best for its own needs - but its voters would see a variety of different systems at work, so pressure would build to choose the system best for its people. (Well, okay, pressure would build if the results were shown on American Idol.)

 

[Patranus]

Break up the union while you're at it.

Why would you say that. There are certain things clearly defined in the Constitution that the federal government is required to do (defense for one) and the remainder is left to the state/people.

if you don't like how your state is handling health care THAN ELECT PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT YOU or MOVE TO A STATE THAT HAS THE SAME VIEWS AS YOU.

VOTE WITH YOUR FEET.

 

[JSt0rm]

harharhar do you really think the health insurance industry would allow people to vote out of their trap? hahahahah. They would sink this thing in every state faster then they sunk it on the federal level.

 

[JSt0rm]

My healthcare plan is this:

If you have no health care but have a life threatening illness go and kill someone and get health care in prison. You might be in prison but you are still alive.

 

[Jaskalas]

Why can't registered republicans have the republican plan, and registered democrats get to be in their own plan, and segregate and fund with separate accounts?

Needs to be a little more unified than that.

Here is an idea....

You let each state decided what is good for it as that is the role of the state.

You think we'd get the Federal Government to recognize state's rights? That's not a peaceful solution because the men in power would never release it. Letting both parties have what they want while still retaining their power is something they'd go for. That is, if they're willing to go for anything less than 100% dictation over every person. I hope maybe they'll settle for their own homes, their own states.

I admit I have my doubts if they'd even go so far, but maybe they'd like my plan more than their endless gridlock. We are all suffering from their bickering and fighting, from their inaction. This is to drive them to act. To get them to do SOMETHING. They want their healthcare plan? They can have it! Do they have any other choice?

You live in CA right?

He can always move if he doesn't like you. I know I did.

Yahct.

Yet it isn't an idea I've ever heard during the course of the debate.

you'll have to rely on state taxes.

The group of states that elect the costly plan, yes. Aren't they already the ones paying the heavier tax burden? Besides, as the President tells us the cost of inaction is too great. This is their chance.

This in turn means that every state will need to draft its own version of the healthcare plan

That is for Congress to draft and the state to elect. Can't let the state draft it, Congress would oppose anything that wasn't giving themselves ultimate authority. The two plan bill would need to cover the details and such.

 

[Jaskalas]

Break up the union while you're at it.

What are you threatening happens if we don't pass YOUR bill?

I don't want yours and you don't want mine. As you can see we are already divided.

This is what happens when you want a single authority to continue to expand and dictate every single minutia detail of our existence. You're no longer going to be as united as you were with simpler things like defense against foreign threats. Even that was a monumental task.

You won’t take a chance to end the gridlock over something being touted as so highly important? Perhaps you’re a good example of why Congress is unable to find a compromise. 100% across the nation or nothing at all is it? I considered this at the outset, but figured I’d give peace a chance.

You know what happens as a pot boils. Wonder what release you’ll think of.

 

[werepossum]

What are you threatening happens if we don't pass YOUR bill?

I don't want yours and you don't want mine. As you can see we are already divided.

This is what happens when you want a single authority to continue to expand and dictate every single minutia detail of our existence. You're no longer going to be as united as you were with simpler things like defense against foreign threats. Even that was a monumental task.

You won’t take a chance to end the gridlock over something being touted as so highly important? Perhaps you’re a good example of why Congress is unable to find a compromise. 100% across the nation or nothing at all is it? I considered this at the outset, but figured I’d give peace a chance.

You know what happens as a pot boils. Wonder what release you’ll think of.

Liberals find their plans work best if there's nothing to compare them to.

 

[Schadenfroh]

The first step towards health care reform should be tort reform.

 

[Carmen813]

My healthcare plan is this:

If you have no health care but have a life threatening illness go and kill someone and get health care in prison. You might be in prison but you are still alive.

You know how your auto insurance pays for medical expenses? Well, if you get sick, just drive your car into a wall!

Problem solved.

 

[werepossum]

You know how your auto insurance pays for medical expenses? Well, if you get sick, just drive your car into a wall!

Problem solved.

LOL!

"Are you hurt?"

"Yes, in my tonsils. I think they'll have to come out."

 

[CPA]

Why can't registered republicans have the republican plan, and registered democrats get to be in their own plan, and segregate and fund with separate accounts?

and pray tell how do you fund each plan, seperate tax plans for each group? Can I claim independent and not use either plan?

 

[drebo]

You know what I find funny in all this talk of "providing cheap healthcare to the masses"? The fact that this health care bill DOESN'T. It's a tax and a fine for NOT having health care or having TOO GOOD health care, but it doesn't do anything about actually making sure that health care exists.

Whan to know why that is? Because ERs are NOT allowed to turn anyone away for lack of payment or identification. Undocumented immigrant's anchor-baby has a tummy ache? EMERGENCY ROOM! White-trash unwed mother's crotch-dropping's got puss coming out of its ears? EMERGENCY ROOM! They already do it. The government knows they don't need to do anything to provide medical care to everyone, because everyone already gets it.

This is where health care reform needs to start: I don't have all the answers to all of the problems, but prices (by which I mean the prices of medical treatment, not the prices of insurance premiums) need to come down. Litigation and malpractice insurance is only a small part of it. ALL costs associated with healthcare are too high precisely because of problems like the above, and like Medicare providing a "max payout" both per day and per treatment. Giving a cost structure (as Medicare has done) has taken away the ability for doctors and patients to negotiate appropriate compensation for services rendered by establishing "prices" for treatments that the government is willing to pay, and of course, they'll charge that for everyone. We need to fix health care from this perspective.

Subsidising insurance premiums with tax money (which, ironically, will likely end up as a net INCREASE in costs per person for middle and upperclass families and people who already have health insurance) does not address the underlying problem of: Why do we need health "insurance" for preventative and minor medical care, in the first place?

 

[Patranus]

You know what I find funny in all this talk of "providing cheap healthcare to the masses"?

The fact of the matter is that the VAST MAJORITY of people who do not have health care CAN afford it. As discussed (and proven) many times before, you can get a health insurance with $1,500 deductible for as much as many people spend on their cell phone each month or eating out.

The central fact is that those with pre existing conditions make up such a small percentage of the population that addressing those needs should be done on a state/local level.

 

[Argo]

The fact of the matter is that the VAST MAJORITY of people who do not have health care CAN afford it. As discussed (and proven) many times before, you can get a health insurance with $1,500 deductible for as much as many people spend on their cell phone each month or eating out.

The central fact is that those with pre existing conditions make up such a small percentage of the population that addressing those needs should be done on a state/local level.

I was actually curious about that. Can you (or anybody else) provide some sample insurance quotes.

 

[drebo]

I was actually curious about that. Can you (or anybody else) provide some sample insurance quotes.

Check out www.ehealthinsurance.com . I was very surprised at some of the costs. Blue Shield of California has a $900 deductable/40% coinsurance/$4900 max-out-of-pocket plan for $65/mo for a single 24 year old male. I would imagine that most of the iPhone-toting Mexicans around here could pay for that if they could deal without their $100/mo cellphone plans.

 

[Argo]

Check out www.ehealthinsurance.com . I was very surprised at some of the costs. Blue Shield of California has a $900 deductable/40% coinsurance/$4900 max-out-of-pocket plan for $65/mo for a single 24 year old male. I would imagine that most of the iPhone-toting Mexicans around here could pay for that if they could deal without their $100/mo cellphone plans.

Interesting. 40%/$4900 is a bit stiff - but the prices are a lot more reasonable than I thought.

 

[umbrella39]

The fact of the matter is that the VAST MAJORITY of people who do not have health care CAN afford it. As discussed (and proven) many times before, you can get a health insurance with $1,500 deductible for as much as many people spend on their cell phone each month or eating out.

I guess being single for life does have its benefits... it's cheap.