This is intended for liberals, just to reduce the number of "The Federal Government shoudln't be involved in health care" responses. While I agree, those responses aren't relevant in this particular case. If you are NOT a liberal and you are willing to accept as a given that the Federal government should provide health care to the masses, please feel free to post.
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I have a proposal for a comprehensive, nation-wide federal health care plan that will provide access to Health Care for all of the people of the United States. As with The Obama's plan, it may not fully cover people who are extreme examples, but it will take care of the same 98-99% of the populaton.
Given:
-FY2008, the Federal Gvmnt spent $682.1B for Medicare and Medicade.
-There are ~300,000,000 peopel in the US
Divide that $682.1B by 300M and you get ~$2275 per person.
The Plan:
Rather than spend the aforementioned money on Medicare/Medicad, re-allocate said money to that each person receives a yearly $2275 tax credit ($9100 for a family of 4) for use to purchase whatever sort of health care they believe best handles their needs. They can buy insurance, they can save the money to spend as they go, they can use it to take a trip to Hawaii, or whaever else they might choose.
BUT.... the freedom to choose comes with the responsibility for your choices; if you choose poorly in your spending of that money, you then suffer the consequences – you will be responible for any and all health care bills you incur -- doctors and hospitals will no longer be forced to treat people that cannot pay (though they may choose to do so); any unpaid bills will be paid through the yearly credit.
Anyone that cannot stand the thought of kids suffering becaise of their idiot parents can choose to contribute to charities or to the health care costs of the children, directly.
Thus, without spending any more money than we already are, this plan will then make sure everyone has access to paid health care. It will also eliminate 2 huge federal programs as well as any and all red tape associated with them, and give people responsibility for themselves and their choices.
Question:
Do you think this is a good idea?
Why/why not?