Originally Posted by fxashun

So we can argue all day about the problem, but no one has any ideas on a cure?

Originally Posted by fxashun

There are several ways that we can approach this problem. My first plan is what I'll call the "fair" plan. We already have Medicare and Medicaid as taxpayer funded plans for the elderly and poor. So in my opinion we need to take care of the working man and his family. How do we fund this?

I say we have a tiered system paid for with sales taxes instead of wages. EVERYBODY pays sales tax on everything they buy. If you ain't buying anything, you are POOR, so you already qualify for medicare. And if aren't poor enough to be on the other plans, then you still should have to pay "something" for your health care. It's not "fair" any other way.

I propose a 5% federal healthcare tax on every purchase except non-prepared food and housing(up to a certain figure determined by the area). It's fair, it's non-deductible, and everyone pays it at a rate according to their income. Poor people naturally won't pay as much as rich people.

I don't like the graduated income tax system that punishes rich people for being successful. I agree with the politicians that want to abolish the IRS for a nationwide sales tax. That would be awesome.

So you ARE for "socialised" healthcare after all?

Why can't we find a way to channel all the hidden costs we already pay for healthcare - into healthcare? Instead of a new tax?

For example the $1000 on every new car, the $25 on every plane ticket, and a million other etceteras?

If the avaricious health insurance sector withers away that will also free up billions.





As for the "tiered" part. This basic health care would just be for "basic" care. No one will be getting a million dollar surgery from just this plan. That's not what it is for. It is to take care of the basic needs that many experts say that a majority of uninsured people aren't getting. So there will have to be a cap on services rendered under this plan.

So you want to take care of the sick but not the REALLY sick?




So we have to have optional service levels that you will have to pay for. To keep the plan solvent, that's the only way that I think it will work. I just don't see giving unlimited care to EVERYBODY on the backs of the few. Because there are too many human behaviors out there are "risky" to do that.

We can do it through caps, or we can have higher deductibles, just like regular insurance. But the tiered rates are the same for everyone, since the insurance is for everyone. And they all increase at the same rate, even if you do get sick.

I think the only fair way is some kind of means-tested co-payment, like the system they have in Australia


If you become disabled due to an illness, you no longer have to pay premiums as long as you are disabled. But your coverage tier is locked where it was before you got sick.

Smokers, convicted prostitutes, drug addicts, convicted DUI offenders etc will all have higher rates for the optional tiers. But EVERYBODY qualifies for the "basic" care at no other charge.

Any other ideas or improvements? I have other plans...But this one seems to be the best IMHO.

Regular insurance companies can offer coverage as well under my plan under their own tiered structure. But once they have an insured, they are locked, and can't be canceled for anything but non-payment. And the rules should be the same as the Federal plan or better.

Originally Posted by highway80west

You ever thought of letting your elected officials, like your senators (US and state) and assembly/congress know your feelings, FX? They'd like to hear your ideas. I know they are concerned about it, too.

Originally Posted by garysher

They're too busy

1) swapping recipes
2) exchanging emoticons
3) complaining that this forum has gone downhill