Thursday, July 18, 2013

Options to Obamacare

My two cents: Although I do not agree with everything in this article, that was  printed on July 18th 2013, in the New Canaan News, I found some points interesting. I liked the idea of the lower medicare ages. This would allow patients to get medicare at a time when regular  insurance  may be out of reach due to cost and pre-existing conditions. 
Excerpts below- for the full article:
http://www.newcanaannewsonline.com/opinion/article/House-Calls-Dr-Michael-Schwartz-4672345.php

Patients and physicians are both finding the health care policies implemented under the recent Affordable Care Act (also known as "Obamacare") confusing and concerning. While patients are concerned about health care costs and access, the new rules and regulations are forcing many doctors to consider leaving the profession and many potential physicians to not enter the profession. Older Americans are anxious about losing their Medicare benefits and the uncertainty of the effect the Affordable Care Act is placing on the economy.
Ideally, health care coverage should be accessible to everyone. However, many doctors and patients are discouraged by the implementation of more regulations and many do not think the entire system needs an overhaul. As such, I asked physicians and patients across the country for their views on how to fix the system; below are some of their suggestions:
The government should provide free medical care for every child until the age of 18:
1. Eliminates the need for families to worry about coverage for their children;
2. Reduces health care costs for individuals as well as corporate employers.
3. Create competition by developing not-for-profit health care companies to compete with the current "for profit" model HMO/PPO:
1. Government should assist in the creation of "not-for-profit" medical insurance companies to compete with "for profit" companies;
2. Lower the premiums for individuals who choose "not for profit" companies for their health care;
3. Competition will decrease the amount currently charged by existing "for profit" insurance companies.
Lower the eligible Medicare age and add a co-pay, for example:
Age 62 -- Medicare pays 50 percent and patient pays 50 percent with a $30 co-pay
Age 65 -- Medicare pays 65 percent and patient pays 35 percent with a $20 co-pay
Age 67 -- Medicare pays 75 percent and patient pays 25 percent with a $10 co-pay
Age 70 -- Medicare pays 80 percent and patient pays 20 percent with a $5 co-pay
Age 75 and older -- Medicare pays 90 percent and patient pays 10 percent without a co-pay.
1. This will allow many Americans to enjoy the benefits of the Medicare program at an earlier age and will reduce costs for millions of Americans who will not have to pay for their health insurance for three extra years;
2. Preserves the Medicare program by reducing costs and discouraging unnecessary patient visits by adding a co-pay;
3. Will allow employers to save money by lowering or eliminating the need to cover insurance costs for many of their aging work force.
Limit malpractice awards:
1. Tort reform could lower malpractice premiums and lower patient costs;
2. Create "malpractice panels" made up of specially trained individuals to determine appropriateness of cases and awards.
Tax all malpractice awards 10 percent off the top and add ¼ percent federal sales tax to help fund these health programs:
1. Use these collections to fund lowering the Medicare age and covering all children until the age of 18.
2. Assures that these monetary awards will ultimately improve the health care for others.
Eliminate all direct to consumer advertising by pharmaceutical companies:
1. Use the savings to lower drug costs and support additional programs to supply free or discounted medicine;
2. Will encourage the use of generic products whenever possible.
With the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the effects of the Affordable Care Act, the number and quality of individuals eager to enter the medical profession has diminished. Over-regulation merely results in confusion and runaway medical costs. Creative ideas from doctors and patients may ultimately assist our legislators in ways to promote a better health care system for everyone.
Dr. Michael Schwartz is board- certified in internal medicine with a private practice in Darien. For comments or questions, visit his website at www.drmichaelbschwartz.com.

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