How to Replace ObamaCare

Eagle Forum Blog: How to Replace ObamaCare

I sort of agree and sort of don't.

I don't support obamacare in any way, shape or form. I fail to see how putting everyone on Medicaid would be an improvement. And that is what will eventually come from obamacare. Why? This legislation requires everyone to buy insurance or pay a fine that is LESS than the cost of a years worth of insurance. Since no insurance will be allowed to deny you coverage should you actually get sick, most will choose to pay the fine. All the insurance companies will go broke since they will only have sick people paying in. The result will eventually be a single-payer system (which is the whole goal in the first place). Medicaid is exactly how that will look only more over crowded. Why anyone would think differently, I have no idea. If you look closely at the care in other countries, that is exactly what they have. With our gov's history, why would it be any different?

Now, does this mean I think our current medical system is great? Well, it's better than anyone else has, but it very badly broken.

What we should do to fix it:
1) Remove all government requirements and regulations on insurance companies (except of course punishing any company that doesn't keep their end of their contracts. (Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not lie.)

2) End all Government involvement in health care (Medicare and Medicaid). Look at history. EVERY time ANY government gets involved in ANY industry the prices skyrocket and the quality plummets. Removing gove involvement will open the door for innovation and price cuts.

3) Institute a healthcare voucher system. Send every citizen and LEGAL immigrant a check for, say, $5000.00 that can be deposited into a healthcare savings account (Why would the elderly need poor quality Medicare when they hav ethe money to buy the same high quality care everyone else gets?). The only regulation would be that the receiver of the check must buy some sort of hospitalization coverage. They would be free to shop around to find the policy that would best meet their needs (hubby and I would look for maternity coverage, my elderly parents wouldn't, for example). Any more comprehensive coverage would be up to each individual. For hubby and I the money left in the account would be more than enough to cover our annual medical bills. We wouldn't seek any better coverage than hospital. My parents on the other hand, would probably look for something that would pay a wider range of bills. We would both shop around for the best deal with the most reliable companies.

4) Let the individuals contribute additional money to their accounts and cash out the leftovers at the end of the year. This would encourage price comparisons and trigger price wars among care providers. This is how capitalism works when unshackled by the government.

5) The legislation would include a reduction of 5% per year in the amount of the voucher until it no longer exists (An exception could be made for those born before 1965. Everyone else would have time to save some money up for their future.)

This plan would divorce health coverage from employment (a stupid idea in the first place.) It would drive prices down while forcing quality and innovation up. Most importantly, it would give each individual the freedom to buy what coverage they need, not some generic, cookie-cutter plan that doesn't fit them.

I really think this would be the best plan.