I’ve been buying my own health insurance since 1992 and there are FREE things that can be done that will improve the access to medical insurance industry while reducing the cost. But before we start lets get one thing straight … people that don’t want to buy medical insurance either due to their age or they’d rather buy beer shouldn’t be forced to buy it or included in the total of those that don’t have medical insurance.
Here’s the plan …
- Allow a person to shop all 50 states for medical insurance. I typically have two choices in my state which doesn’t exactly scream competition.
- Allow ala-carte buying of medical insurance. I don’t need mental health coverage, drug addiction coverage, quitting smoking, etc. Hey Government – Let me buy what I want and not what you think I need!
- Tort Reform – Get the lawyers off the doctors’ backs. In 1988 when my second child was born the doctor delivering the baby was paying $35,000 per year for liability insurance and he’d never been sued! In 2004 the average for doctors in Florida was $194,000 per year! (Google obstetrician liability insurance cost)
- Portability for pre existing conditions. This is a tough one and I am open to suggestions as to how to handle it. I had my back checked (one appointment, no surgery) and was fine (I play hockey three time per week). My exiting policy premium started to skyrocket in cost so I decided to change to another company. I’m an honest guy so I put down the visit to the doctor for my back on the application. The rejection letter was in our mail box before the ink dried.
Free market competition is key. Think of all the items that have gone up in cost the last 30 years and those that haven’t. Let’s make a list of both.
Up, Up and Away … Medical Insurance, College Tuition, Gasoline, Medicare, Medicaid, etc. – Common to all? Governemnt involvement
Same cost or less … TV’s, Appliances, Cosemetic Surgery, Furniture, etc. - Common to all? Little to no government involvement
