Monday, April 16, 2007

Health Care Options



(1) Inject market forces into the private health care sector. The fact that health care companies do not cut down on paperwork and move on to electronic options is proof they are not competing with each other to bring even the obvious costs down. That alone has meant health care is 30% more expensive than it should be.

(2) When you bring the costs down, premiums will likely go down. More people will be able to afford insurance.

(3) Organize the insured Ralph Nader style: consumer protection. The insurance companies routinely deny health care to those already insured. They just flat out deny. Make it easier for people to shop around.

(4) Move towards universal health care, sure. But that can't be standalone.

(5) Focus on wellness, on preventive health care. Both should be incentivised. People who work hard to stay healthy, to eat right, to exercise, to get the rest should see monetary benefits.

The key thing is not lack of good ideas. The good ideas are all out there. The challenge is so how do you sell it. The best way would be to keep the debate as transparent as possible at all stages and get the masses to be part of it all over the country. That is how you sell.









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