Health care alternative

As the Right prepares to take back their country, I'm hearing more talk about overturning the health care bill. In preparation for this, I thought I'd offer your readers an alternative system that we could put in place after this weak existing healthcare system is shown the door.

My plan proposes coverage of all medically-necessary services without charging co-payments or deductibles, and no limits on coverage.

The services covered would include: primary care; inpatient, outpatient and emergency medical care; prescription drugs; durable medical equipment; hearing, dental and vision care; chiropractic treatment; mental health services; and long term care. In essence, my plan covers everything.

The patient would have his or her choice of hospitals, clinics, physicians and providers, who would all be part of this system. The fact is that they would all want to be in it because it would be the only game in town.

The cost of coverage will depend on earnings, but it will amount to 4.75 percent of an individual's salary. This percentage includes the 1.45 percent Medical Payroll tax that you are already paying; for a net increase of 3.3 percent. For instance we would charge $2,700 per year for a family of four making a median income of $56,000 per year.

A few more facts about my plan: The only people making a profit would be the actual medical providers (doctors, nurses, technicians, etc.). There would be no non-medical corporations taking their share. My plan includes a decrease of 31 percent of what we are currently paying for healthcare due to the reduction of administrative costs; and another reduction of — who knows how much — accounting for the obscene profits that the insurance companies would no longer be taking.

If you have read this far, I must have piqued your curiosity. I thank you for your perseverance. You have just read an admittedly abbreviated (but absolutely true) version of last year's United States Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676, as submitted by Representatives John Conyers. This bill was not given the time of day by Republicans and most Democrats.

Yes my friends this is the evil "Socialized Medicine" that we will have someday. We can't afford not to.

By : Brian O'Donoghue

Source : www.sun-sentinel.com