That's a cop-out to most people I know of both parties. Further, if
a truly cost-cutting, deficit-reducing bill for universal health care
reaches the floor, it won't take long for incumbents -- many of whose
constituents were Obama voters just to get change -- to recognize the
voting-booth factor of such a bill which so heavily favors most
Americans.
But cutting waste requires effective marketplace
competition so as to bring the health industry and the many profiteers
into line. A transparent and effective way to do this is:
- Permit
applicants of any age to buy federal Medicare coverage if affordable
private insurance is not available to them in their state;
- Trigger eligibility via certification by the respective states;
- Subsidize, bi-annually, the Medicare premiums for
applicants certified as indigents, always with the goal of weaning
participants to financial responsibility and/or to switch to private
insurers as they become more competitive;
- Finance the
start-up costs from Treasury funds with legislation for taxes. Once
functioning, the elimination of waste, overhead and profiteering will
provide substantial cost savings over the Senate and House bills and be
deficit neutral.
In its basic form, Medicare has been enormously
beneficial to elderly Americans both by universal coverage and cost
discipline. These proven features could be extended to all in need
while ensuring a competitive alternative for those many Americans who
may choose to continue with private insurance coverage.
The
American public needs President Obama and Congress to get this done
now. It will cause new employment opportunities for health care
personnel in the short term and clear the deck for addressing other
major issues affecting the well-being of our society and the world.
Arthur Trezise lives in Fayston.
