The health care system in the USA is broken, and has been for decades. The economic consequences of failing to implement effectively solutions has been immense. Finally, the momentum demanding change is growing. I still think the entrenched interests are going to delay needed reform, but hopefully I am wrong. An interesting proposal for ending medical status pricing is in the news – Health Insurers Propose End to Medical-Status Pricing
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Health insurers oppose a Democratic push to create a government-run health plan to compete with private insurers for customers. Supporters of a public plan, including President Barack Obama, say it would guarantee affordable coverage, especially among those denied insurance or charged higher rates because of pre-existing medical conditions.
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Insurers still would adjust variations in the price of premiums to an applicant’s age, family size and place of residence, according to Zirkelbach’s group. The organization speaks for 1,300 companies that provide public or privately funded benefits, led by UnitedHealth Group Inc. of Minnetonka, Minnesota, and Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc.
This federal employees health benefit plan provides any federal employee the option to buy the insurance with no cost difference depending on health status. Some option, building off that is one that seems to have some possibility of success. I think some such system would be an improvement. However, it is far from the solution. Many problems are not solved by that at all. The huge amount of waste generated by insures and all the forms, needless bureaucracy… they generate is hard to justify. What value to they provide for the enormous costs?
Related: Broken Health Care System: Self-Employed Insurance – Traveling for Health Care – Employees Face Soaring Health Insurance Costs – Personal Finance Basics: Health Insurance – USA Spent $2.2 Trillion, 16.2% of GDP, on Health Care in 2007
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