Health Care Idea
 

Having looked for personal health care recently, I'd like to float an idea out to everyone to see what you think.

One of the things that the insurance companies offer are a "community" health cooperative. Basically, what they do is they offer a plan in a particular city or group of cities at a particular rate. They try to get as many people in that area onto the plan to help spread the cost out. The idea being that the more people you have, the more bargaining power that you have to get better rates on everything from hospital care to prescription medication.

I think that this would be a better way for the government to go. Use the collective bargaining power in each state to lessen the cost to Americans. They should be able to offer major medical plans for about the price of what companies charge their employees for medical insurance.

To make things more competitive for the insurance companies, you make it a 4 or 5 year deal with a set rate across that time span. This will keep competition up amongst the insurance companies to try and keep costs low.

What the government can't do is turn it into another Medicare debacle, which seems the course that they are intent on currently.

Re: Health Care Idea
 

Good thoughts.

We could also have more competition, stymied in part by legislation that forbids interstate health insurance offerings, as I've had it explained to me.

And tort reform is desperately needed. I have an old girlfriend who delivers babies in Oregon as an MD. Her liability coverage is so expensive, it takes 32/33 deliveries a year just to pay that bill.

Re: Health Care Idea
 

Tort Reform is an interesting buzzword..

1. Do you want the initiative to come from the White House, as most if not all, decisions are made on the state level.. have the states do something.. there would be a conundrum if the White House got involved in states rights..

2. Do you want the White House to tell local judiciaries what to do and how to handle these cases, sounds like an infrindgement of Executive/Judicial barrier...

If Obama went this way, there would be another maestrom on the right, with all the socialist and nazi rhetoric..

Re: Health Care Idea
 

I would be more than willing to trade in my ability to sue for malpractice for a lower insurance rate, and I'm sure many others would too. Lets face it we all pay more so that the John Edwards of this world can run around and sue doctors for birth defects, that they had nothing to do with.

Re: Health Care Idea
 

Yeah everyone would cry if Obama embraced tort reform, everyone on the left who bankrolled him that is......

This country is in serious need of tort reform, first and foremost, LOSER PAYS.

Secondly, if your lawsuit is found to be utterly baselessand frivilous by the presiding Judge, you pay your opponent triple what you originally asked for (including the gov't).

Third TAX, 33% tax on all judgments (and 10 % tax on all out of court settlements) to pay for the justice system that supports it.

Fourth, actual oversight of lawyers, by someone OTHER THAN LAWYERS.

Re: Health Care Idea
 

That will fly:rolleyes::rolleyes:, probably solve a little less than nothing.. how do you impact the states, does the WH dictate what states should do???

Did not realize that all lawyers were Democrats??? Another interesting factoid..

Re: Health Care Idea
 

Uhhhhh....


sounds like regional single payer, with a middle man.


aka - a scam.

Insurance companies do noting for payers and doctors, they just take money. Single payer is the only real reform. A public option is th eonly way to single payer. Anyone who tells you different is a moron, or paid by an insurance loby.

Re: Health Care Idea
 

Pennsylvania enacted auto insurance reform several years ago with this exact provision. When renewing your auto insurance, you have two options, one retains the right to sue for a higher premium, and the alternative waives the right to sue (you get your medical bills paid but no pain and suffering)) for a lower premium. No one is forced to do anything they don't want and it keeps all sides happy.....
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Back from vacation.......

Re: Health Care Idea
 

Tort Reform is imperative... Reform of malpractice lawsuits is also imperative...

Re: Health Care Idea
 

But isn't that a state issue???