Solvency Through Good Health
Two big birds, one big stone. Here is my plan to solve the current economic crisis and crisis in health care costs.
It's called "The Economic Bailout through Healthy Living Plan of 2008" (aka "Good Health Plan"). Beginning, say, on 4 November, all health care in America is free to everyone; costs are guaranteed by the US government.
There are many benefits of the Good Health Plan compared to the ill-considered (pun intended) Paulson Bailout Plan.
- Foremost, everyone–every single person–in the US benefits from the Good Health Plan.
- It's cheaper: Estimates put the annual cost of universal health care at about $900 per person. Call it $1,000 and note that this is still at least a 50% savings over the Paulson Bailout Plan.
- It reduces foreclosure: Some 46% of individuals filing for bankruptcy cited a cause related to the cost of medical treatment. End those bankruptcies and more people can pay their mortgages.
- It saves money: In 2007 the US spent $2 Trillion on health care ($7,439 per capita). Moving to a single-payer plan is expected to reduce administrative costs by nearly a third, or, coincidentally, about $700 Billion, the price of the Paulsen plan. NB: the Good Health Plan saves as much as the Paulson plan spends.
- It increases liquidity: Per the item above, the Good Health Plan releases $700 Billion annually into the economy, widely distributed throughout all sectors.
- It's taxpayer oriented, not designed to benefit the financial elite–it doesn't reward bad financial behavior.
- The political will is there and the time is ripe.
- Everyone will actually feel better.
These are just the talking points, of course, but the Good Health Plan is remarkably simple anyway and without the involvement of credit-default swaps or other financial derivatives.
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I welcome comments -- even dissent -- but I will delete without notice irrelevant, rude, psychotic, or incomprehensible comments, particularly those that I deem homophobic, unless they are amusing. The same goes for commercial comments and trackbacks. Sorry, but it's my blog and my decisions are final.
on Thursday, 9 October 2008 at 15.51
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Jeff, that's amazing. I like it a lot. Why don't you send it to Obama or at least his campaign? Good research details, too.
on Thursday, 9 October 2008 at 17.01
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And I forgot the Republican's favorite mantra: The Good Health Plan would remove the burden of providing health insurance from small businesses, increasing their liquidity and reducing their reliance on credit lines at payroll time.
SW, I don't know anyone suitable at the Obama campaign right now (suitable == far enough up the hierarchy to make it visible). However, blogger friends are free to publicize the Good Health Plan and bring it to the attention of people who can.