Issue Position: Health Care

Issue Position

Health Care Program or the "American Total Health Plan"

Federal Government to collect the percentage approximately equal to 1/10 the person's age + 3% based on total yearly income (up to 2 million dollars) on all individuals (working or retired, until death) above the age of 19, in the U.S. and all territories for medical, health, hospital, drug coverage, mental health, dental, insurance.

4% to 8% for a non-working spouse or any family member residing in house depending on age.

4% for each child (maximum 18%) until children enter college or work, or until age 19.

Individuals going to college will be covered until high-school graduation or 19 years old whichever is first, but yearly premium deficit to be made up by adding 1% each year to an individual health care account until amount of unpaid % is made up (Example: 5 years in college or trade school or medical school) 4% x 5years = 20%. Therefore, 20 years of 1% additional yearly wages).

Individuals who are accident-prone, unlucky, have-had unusually many hospital stays (drugs, fights, engage in risky behavior, engage in dangerous sports-activities, or smoke, etc., all pay a higher percentage of income.

All people with jobs, part-time or full time, pay the required percentage, regardless of the amount of income until death. A co-pay and deductible will apply.

Medicaid to be eliminated when new health care bill is signed into law.

Medicare to be phased out, and all new people entering work force would be under new health care system. Lack of MediCare funding with less participants will be overcome with interest made from federal home bond mortgage loans and loans made for Co-Operative Business organizations.

Government to collect monies (health care premiums) but 3rd party companies (usually administered by CPAs and/or private companies) pay for doctors, hospitals, medicine, specific health care, etc. No need for private insurance companies, except for individuals who want additional private insurance, and private insurance would be the primary insurance carrier.

This would eliminate the need for the Anti-Trust exemptions legislation for Health Insurance companies which currently allows them to collude in setting prices and coverage.

System of 3rd party administrators (new companies could form, paid by the US Government), like the FRS (Federal Reserve System). There would be 3 tiers of administration.

1st Tier: to approve coverage, doctor's cost, hospital cost, emergency treatment, etc. and paying of medical coverage (many 1st tier offices; mainly accounts and bookkeepers; needed to pay claims/bills of doctors, hospitals, drugs, etc.).

2nd Tier: (regional) organization would make decisions on unusual treatment that would be needed while possibly using the Air Force Reserve and National Guard to fly/move patients across country (if needed). This tier would also decide where individuals would be sent and the best possible place (hospital/medical facility) for treatment (cancer, burn victims, transplants, etc.).

3rd Tier: (one place in one city made up of many experienced professionals) to set policy, appeals, payment amounts for doctors, hospitals, medicine and settle disputes. This tier also acts as a clearing court for disputes and challenges to coverage/benefits.

This 3-tier approach would take individuals out of the payment process eliminating haggling with doctors, pharmacies, hospitals, etc.

Products (medicines, serums, drugs, etc.) and services involved in health care can no longer be delivered, manufactured or produced by publicly traded companies. If you are in the health business then you are out of the stock market.

Health Insurance administered for individuals by group of independent professionals and not through current insurance companies. Premiums would be based on life-style and basic health standards, i.e. smoking, overweight, high blood pressure, illegal drug use, excessive alcohol use would be more costly.

Health Care solutions must include Tort Reform that limits liability for pain and suffering. This cuts malpractice premiums and reduces the cost of needless "Defensive" tests. The law should allow posting of local prescription drug prices on the Internet so that people could shop for the lowest price. Encourage the medical industry to digitize medical records to reduce paperwork related costs

Source