But....If it were up to you, what changes do you think would help fix the problem? Changes that won't bankrupt the country or put too much burden on tax payers.

This is hard for me to answer as I don't know all the current regulations in place that may or may not be hurting. Something has to be done about lawsuits.

 

Also it is my understanding that companies are not allowed to sell across state lines? Is that right? What is the purpose of this?

A friend of mine emailed the following to me a short time ago. Author unknown.

 

 

"Obama's health care plan will be written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it and whose members will be exempt from it, signed by a president who smokes, funded by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that is broke.

 

 

 

What could possibly go wrong?"

Back on topic..................

 

For one, insurance companies should be able to engage in business across state lines in order to create additional competition. This has been discussed in some depth and would at least be a start.

Back on topic..................

 

For one, insurance companies should be able to engage in business across state lines in order to create additional competition. This has been discussed in some depth and would at least be a start.

I'm all for this. I admittingly don't know much about this, but why aren't the able to currently?

I'm all for this. I admittingly don't know much about this, but why aren't the able to currently?

 

Much of the problem is related to the fact that each state has it's own set of insurance regulations and mandates which sometimes precludes out-of-state insurors from gaining a foot-hold in that state.

Much of the problem is related to the fact that each state has it's own set of insurance regulations and mandates which sometimes precludes out-of-state insurors from gaining a foot-hold in that state.

The reform bills should at the very least set up a national standard to allow crossing of state lines to seek better options. I'd like to go to a single payer system incrementally, indexed to the debt and GDP growth. I don't know how practical it would be, but I'd prefer to go that way than to an immediate single payer system.

Among other things:

 

1. Give health care tax credits to individuals instead of employers. Employee-sponsored health care decreases quality and only looks to cost. Furthermore, subsidizing employers makes it all the more expensive for individuals (unemployed, small-business owners, etc.) to purchase health insurance.

 

2. Allow people to purchase insurance across state lines (as stated)

 

3. Give Medicare participants vouchers and let them keep the savings if they choose a cheaper plan. This is will cap costs and increase competition.

 

4. Eliminate most medical licensing laws. Medical licensing laws should be voluntary- a doctor should only need a license if he thinks it would help him, and he should pay for it. Without unnecessary medical licenses for doctors, more primary care could come from nurses, midwives, etc.

I have no problem with the competetion of letting people shop across state lines. However, whats the solution when the insurance companies all start setting up shop in a state that has the weakest restrictions on what procedures must be covered to offer insurance in that state? This is a very real concern in my opinion with profit driven insurance companies.

Among other things:

 

1. Give health care tax credits to individuals instead of employers. Employee-sponsored health care decreases quality and only looks to cost. Furthermore, subsidizing employers makes it all the more expensive for individuals (unemployed, small-business owners, etc.) to purchase health insurance.

 

2. Allow people to purchase insurance across state lines (as stated)

 

3. Give Medicare participants vouchers and let them keep the savings if they choose a cheaper plan. This is will cap costs and increase competition.

 

4. Eliminate most medical licensing laws. Medical licensing laws should be voluntary- a doctor should only need a license if he thinks it would help him, and he should pay for it. Without unnecessary medical licenses for doctors, more primary care could come from nurses, midwives, etc.

Can you get into the specifics of this one? It seems like doctors having a medical license is a pretty good thing to me.

 

(healthcare is one of my weakest areas by the way)

Can you get into the specifics of this one? It seems like doctors having a medical license is a pretty good thing to me.

 

(healthcare is one of my weakest areas by the way)

 

I feel the same way. Not sure why them having licenses is a bad thing, or how it impacts health care costs.

I feel the same way. Not sure why them having licenses is a bad thing, or how it impacts health care costs.

Now that read it again I feel a little better about what he says. He makes the comment that they should be voluntary. Which is fine with me. I, personally would only go to a licensed doctor, but I'm ok with the other option being out there. Either way, I'd like to hear a little more from cch (or anyone else with more than my rudimentary knowledge of the procedures).

Among other things:

 

1. Give health care tax credits to individuals instead of employers. Employee-sponsored health care decreases quality and only looks to cost. Furthermore, subsidizing employers makes it all the more expensive for individuals (unemployed, small-business owners, etc.) to purchase health insurance.

 

2. Allow people to purchase insurance across state lines (as stated)

 

3. Give Medicare participants vouchers and let them keep the savings if they choose a cheaper plan. This is will cap costs and increase competition.

 

4. Eliminate most medical licensing laws. Medical licensing laws should be voluntary- a doctor should only need a license if he thinks it would help him, and he should pay for it. Without unnecessary medical licenses for doctors, more primary care could come from nurses, midwives, etc.

 

See Republican Bill proposed, May, 2009.

I have no problem with the competetion of letting people shop across state lines. However, whats the solution when the insurance companies all start setting up shop in a state that has the weakest restrictions on what procedures must be covered to offer insurance in that state? This is a very real concern in my opinion with profit driven insurance companies.

 

In a more competitive insurance environment, there would be pressure on the insurance companies to package a product that is appealing to the consumer instead of packaging a product that merely passes some minimum state requirement. Under the current setup, the lack of competition allows the insurance companies to focus more on the "minimums" because they don't have to worry about what the other guy is up to.

The reform bills should at the very least set up a national standard to allow crossing of state lines to seek better options. I'd like to go to a single payer system incrementally, indexed to the debt and GDP growth. I don't know how practical it would be, but I'd prefer to go that way than to an immediate single payer system.

 

What are some of your reasons behind supporting a single payer plan?