Provide Health Insurance for All

One of the four cornerstones of the Health Policy Center recommendations, providing health insurance for all provides choice, control and peace of mind for individuals through guaranteed, portable health insurance. Insurers, employers, the government and individuals all are responsible for addressing this cornerstone.

Specific recommendations

• Require adults to purchase private health insurance for themselves and their families. Employers could continue to participate by buying insurance for their employees or giving them stipends to purchase it. However, the individual would own the insurance.
• Appoint an independent health board (similar to the Federal Reserve) to provide a simple coordinating mechanism for individuals to select a basic private insurance option. Allow people to purchase more services or insurance, if they choose.
• Provide sliding-scale government subsidies to help people with lower incomes buy insurance.
• Realign the health system toward improving health in addition to treating disease.

Advantages

Portability: Individuals could take their insurance to their next job or perhaps even into retirement.

Accessibility: Participating insurers would have to accept all patients, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

Choice and control: Individual ownership would allow health insurance to evolve into a service that gives patients more control and choice. Coverage options and health benefit plans would no longer be solely determined by employers on the basis of what is affordable for the majority of company employees.

Improved service: Insurers would compete for an individual's business by offering competitive rates and providing access to networks of doctors. If the insurance plan didn't meet expectations, people could change insurers.