What reforms do you favor for America's healthcare system?

Question

What's your plan?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Less government intervention at the state and federal level. Both the health care industry and insurance industry have way too many regulations. Complying with those regulations is the biggest single expense factor.

Answer 2

I'm shocked to find that I agree almost completely with the points made in Mrs. Clinton's GW speech. The devil is, of course, in the details, and I eagerly await a fleshing-out of her proposals.
Let me give you an example from my world and the reforms that stare me in the face every day. I sit in my ER all day, and may treat two or three emergencies. The rest of the day I see less urgent problems. Some of my colleagues are annoyed by treating a kid with a cold. The way I see it, I'm there looking for something to do anyway, and I'd rather check the child to make sure it is a cold (not, for instance, meningitis). This should not be an exhorbitant expense to the family, because that will discourage those whose kid really does have meningitis. On the other hand, I teach them how to deal with the snotty nose, and I have no desire to prescribe expensive drugs that aren't going to make any difference, and the insurer or the taxpayer shouldn't be expected to pay for worthless medications. If the parents want to buy something and run the risks of adverse effects, that's OK with me. This little microcosm is an example of the details involved in plans. Grand schemes are nice to talk about, but it's these little things that will mark a good plan from just another change.

Answer 3

A two tier system. One tier is the current system with insurance companies and those who want to stay with it. The second tier is a coop that anyone can join and everything is bought on scale and you pay a small fee per month and you get full health and dental. If you check the government is already paying out close to enough to fund this. All subsudies to Insurance and Doctors plus anyone associated with health care would need to end except colleges doing research, therefore making the insured side truly a free enterprise system. The coop would need to be a stand alone system with strong bylaws. I hear people all the time saying how the Canadiens have bad health care, but I know a bunch of Canadiens and they don't say that, they say they pay a small fee per month and they have full health care and they have a system that practices prevenative care, because anyone there can afford to get a check up, its all included. People better watch out for Hillary and others who want to turn it all over to the Insurance companies, we will really be screwed then.

Answer 4

cut back the adminstration of it all, I mean do you really need eight people overseeing one person? keep the policies simple that way you wont' need every claim going through heck before a decision is made to pay or deny a claim. give the policy holders the information of what is covered how much and their dedutible, don't complicate with a bunch of inclusions or exclusions. I know with our policy it can be a but pain when your not sure what is covered and you call and they have to check this department or that, just for basic dental or eye care.

I wonder what would happen if you had to go to the emergency room and you didn't have time to call and see what is coverd and by how much? Yea I am calling to see what part of heart attack care you cover? I am having a heart attack and I want to get treated where I pay the least out of pocket? Okay what is your account number and I will check. ......okay I will have to ask the supervisor because I am new here and am not sure what these codes on the computer mean, can you hold? hello! hello! I guess she hung up.

RRRRR

Answer 5

Health care for everyone! Private insurance is expensive and dictates what doctor you can see, what medicine you can take, what tests you can have. Its crazy. Now someone on medicade can have whatever they want, no co pays, and get medical help whenever they want. Our health care system is so unbalanced. Just say an elderly person who owned a home became sick and had to go in a nursing home. With medical bills mounting they could apply for medicade and would get it. When they die, guess who gets the money from the sale of the home-you guessed it medicade. By contrast, someone who does not own a home, who has been on public assistance has the same sennario, except, no house to lose, so all is free for them. Is this fair? Its like penalizing people for working and rewarding those who dont.

Answer 6

I think we have much bigger problems to tackle first but a good start would be to quit providing free healthcare to illegals. All of the laws pertaining to insurance favor the insurance companies - these need to be changed. Bring back all the good jobs that went overseas that provided good healthcare. Force the feds and manufacturers to quit putting toxins and carcinogens in our food and water and a lot more people would be healthy. I could go on but I have to get some work done!

Answer 7

Any reforms - at all!

Like controlling big Pharma and those who set the costs!

How about being able to afford Healthcare for a family!

I pay around $89.00 per month for myself at work but if I want to add my family and cover my children it is $960.00 per month!

That is rediculous! They take food out of our childrens mouths just for the peace of mind if they happen to get sick!

Why not have a program where if you pay over $300.00 per month you get a portion of that money back at the end of the year if you have stayed healthy and not had to go to the doctor.

Every other Country has free medical, why doesn't the strongest Nation in the world have it?

Profit and Shareholders! Thats why

Answer 8

Certainly not a "socialist" Universal Health Plan. I would like to see a more capitalist system. Being realistic - I know it would be nearly impossible to make wholesale changes in a system like this, but I think instituting Health Care Savings Plans - where individuals put aside their own money in an account to pay for future medical bills - would be a good start.

Answer 9

1. Limit the amount awarded in lawsuits against health care providers.
2. Make health care AFFORDABLE to everyone based on ability to pay but everyone pays something.
3. Include representatives from the legal, insurance, medical, pharmaseutical industries in considering how to deal with claims, treatment, payment of premiums and copay.
4. Health care providers must be the ones who make the decisions as to what care or treatment a patient is given and not the insurance companies, politicians, lawyers or pharmaseutical companies. Insurance must pay for that treatment. If they have a question about one's treatment they can take it before the review board. Meanwhile the patient is treated. If it is determined that treatment was not necessary after all than it is the healthcare provider that will absorb the cost of treatment otherwise the insurance companies will need to pay.
5. Malpractice would be handled by a board made up of people from the above mentioned industries as well as former politicians and maybe an ordinary citizen or two. The Board would hear evidence that a medical service provider willfully and maliciously cause harm to a patient or did so through neglect or because they attempted to provide care or treatment for which they were not trained. If the health care provider is found guilty his/her license can be suspended, they could be repremanded, or they could have their license revoked depending on how gross the infraction is and whether they have been brought up on charges before. Limited compensation will be given to victims amounting to all subsequent care for the same ailment will be paid for by the offending provider. In case of death resulting from malpractice I would limit the award to the cost of an AVERAGE funeral. Nowdays that would be between 5 and 10 thousand dollars.
6. Insurance companies would be compelled to pool their sources for both premiums and pay outs so no one company is hit with the burden of costs without also getting income.
7. A watchdog committee of citizens and in Congress would monitor the program to ensure that no hanky panky is going on with health care providers, insurance companies, pharmaseutical companies, lawyers or anyone else.
8. Collection of premiums would be done by insurance companies based on guidelines set by Congress to ensure all citizens are insured. As for non-citizens there would be no guarantee unless they are visitors with a legal passport and visa as a reciprical agreement with their home country for payment. Then it would only apply to emergency situations.
9. Illegals can be treated at clinics sponsored by churches or other non-profit organizations and through donations. If a regualr health care provider treats someone here illegally they would be required to absorb the cost and not pass it on to other patients (customers).

Answer 10

Reduce Income Tax. Limit increases in healthcare costs through legislation, give the ability to treat the patient back to the doctors, and provide upto $ 4,000 a year of non-taxed income to be placed in a interest-barring savings plan.