You don't insure tune-ups and tires

Here's what I believe is the solution to all of our healthcare problems. I believe that the majority of the problems in healthcare is because we have removed or isolated the consumer from the equation. The problem is with insurance companies. However that problem will not be solved by adding another layer called government. The problem also not be solved by substituting insurance companies with government. Both scenarios remove the consumer from the equation. Here's an example: The insurance company has an agreement with the doctor. The insurance company then tells you to go to the doctor(s) that they have an agreement with. If you disagree with the doctor you are told that it's part of an agreement. If you complain to the insurance company, you are also told that it's part of an agreement. I've lived this scenario. The problem here is that the consumer was never involved in the agreement but is beholden to it. Interjecting the government will not change this. The solution lies in removing the problem layer, be it government or insurance company. Here's what I would propose:

• Stop trying to insure all medicine or medical procedures. You do not insure tune-ups or tire changes on your car. Preventative medicine like physicals, annual exams, and normal visits for things like the flu or common ailments should be paid directly by the consumer. This is possible because nearly all medical professionals still make payment plans with patients. This is affordable as evidence by the majority of Americans' ability to afford a cell phone.
• Stop all employer paid for insurance. This too removes another layer of "no control" for the consumer. When your employer decides on health plans, s/he has to make a financial decision with limited options. The plans put forth for you to choose from may not be the best plans for you as an individual. I believe that employers will benefit from this too. Employers can immediately shift the total moneys expended for employee health coverage to the employees. Shifting these money's to the employee then "fixes" the cash outlay, as current insurance programs are continually rising creating a major burden on the company.
• Individual consumers would then shop in an open market for health insurance to cover major illnesses, accidents, and/or catastrophes. This would reduce the over all cost of insurance because of the open market for competition and because we are not insuring every sniffle or scrape. Many who pay for the insurance will rarely ever use it. Those who pay and rarely use the insurance will help to offset the costs of those who do need to use it thereby reducing the overall cost of the insurance to all. The details, extent of coverage, and issues such as pre-existing conditions would be worked out directly between the insurer and the consumer.
• Prescription drugs can be treated in the same manner. They can be included in the plan or excluded. All of these "options" allows for the consumer to taylor a plan that best fits their individual needs.

This plan places the consumer back in control of their own individual health. This plan cuts any and all layers out the doctor patient relationship. This plan allows for coverage of "big ticket" items that would otherwise be financially devastating to working families.

This plan removes the over taxation required to have the government manage healthcare for all Americans. This plan eliminates the chance of government control of yet another aspect of respective Americans' lives.

Programs like Medicare would still exist and could be somewhat modified be be more like the above but none-the-less would still be in existence to support those who are elderly and/or struggling. Addition of more government entitlements would no longer be needed. Payments already made under State and Federal welfare type programs are enough to now offset the costs under my plan. By modifying Medicare to be more like my plan, the costs of Medicare could be brought under control thereby reducing the drag on the deficit and economy.

My Plan adds the element of the "healthy" paying into the system thereby offsetting the costs for those with pre-existing conditions. As we've seen with the automotive insurance industry, having a free market approach has driven down the cost of automotive insurance. Even those with bad driving records pay less because of those with good records that still pay for insurance. Roughly 85% of Americans have health insurance now, even without a federal mandate. I can only speculate but I would presume that number to only go up if the cost of health insurance went down. Factually speaking, we do not need a federal mandate to force American's into paying for health insurance.

Of those 15% of Americans who are currently uninsured, how many of them can afford preventive medicine? How many simply can't afford a big plan that covers the tune-ups and tire changes?

Under my plan I would support an "elected" government review panel to regulate and fight against abuses. There are already existing governmental entities that could manage this with little to no change in their structure or tax burden. This would eliminate abuses by "big" insurance companies.

I believe that just as with auto insurance or with gasoline prices, we as consumers are the ones with the ultimate power. Big business is ultimately accountable to the consumer. If we do not buy from Wal-mart, they will go out of business. The big businesses of the world must meet our demands if they wish to continue to receive our dollars. When the government mandates that we buy a product or service it affectively removes the power of the consumer.

We as Americans need to come up with our own solutions that retain our own control over our lives and our respective economic future. If you agree with me, copy and send this to everyone you know via email and most importantly to your representatives and your employers. I believe that this plan is possible as well as most economical for Americans. Most importantly, I believe that this plan retains personal responsibility, accountability, and freedom.