An Answer for Healthcare?

So with SiCKO coming out all eyes are on healthcare in the US. Democrats are coming out with plans that increase taxes and add more people to the rolls of public coverage. Republicans are trickling out plans to reduce the cost of private insurance and increase the rolls of the individual insurance market. Which plan is better? Well, for full disclosure I have, for the past 7 years or so, worked for a major national health insurer. Now some people will automatically discount my opinion without even hearing it because they see me as a member of "Big Insurance". But in my opinion the best option for this country is an increased government role with a supplementary role to be played by the private insurers.

When all other industrialized countries provide at least a basic coverage for all citizens American companies are placed at a huge disadvantage in the marketplace. Its been said that auto makers in the US spend upwards of $1400 per car just to help pay for health benefits for their employees. This is a huge disadvantage that is difficult to overcome in a global marketplace. In most of the disputes throughout the past 5 years between companies and their Union workers, the major point of contention has revolved around health insurance. Who pays what? Copays or deductibles or Coinsurance?

I believe that the best plan would entail a basic universal coverage for catastrophic injuries and life threatening conditions with a minimal copay of some kind possibly being required. This would cover all citizens and legal residents. The system should be paid for by a fee of some kind taken directly from a person's pay. Non-life threatening conditions, such as allergies, acid reflux, pulled muscles, flu/cold etc. would not be covered. Rx coverage would be limited to treatment for covered conditions. Chiropractic services, mental health services, physical therapy, speech therapy, treatment for any condition that can be considered quality of life improvement would not be covered. These services would only be covered through a competative private insurance market. Companies could sign up employees for secondary private insurance as a part of their benefit package, whether as group coverage or reimbursement for an individual policy, but would otherwise not be responsible for paying for insurance.

I think a system based on these recommendations would provide the basic coverage for all and still retain a large role for private insurers and maintain a competetive market. It would also help to cover everyone for major health issues, while limiting the cost in taxes. Is this the answer to everything…probably not. But its better than the system we have now and less costly to taxpayers than a single-payer system that covers everything.