Comments on: How to fix health care http://www.vijaybangaru.com/2009/08/12/how-to-fix-health-care/ Vijay Bangaru's Blog Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:42:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paved with good intentions and “reform” | Defenestrating Thoughts from the Bivouac http://www.vijaybangaru.com/2009/08/12/how-to-fix-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-42855 Paved with good intentions and “reform” | Defenestrating Thoughts from the Bivouac Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:26:22 +0000 http://www.vijaybangaru.com/?p=962#comment-42855 [...] How to fix healthcare [...] [...] How to fix healthcare [...]

]]> By: Vijay http://www.vijaybangaru.com/2009/08/12/how-to-fix-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-42808 Vijay Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:55:42 +0000 http://www.vijaybangaru.com/?p=962#comment-42808 If people wanted they could buy combo plans from a single company, but there's no reason that the payment system would be complicated if you have separate plans. Each plan would be a clear list of what they cover; folks with BMWs aren't confused by how the dealer takes care of oil changes, etc while their private insurance covers collision and comprehensive. In terms of the pools of doctors being different, here's the key: if there is open competition, the plans that will flourish are the ones that allow you to see *any* doctor. This is how the best private plans work today and these are the ones that people will flock towards in the future. If people wanted they could buy combo plans from a single company, but there’s no reason that the payment system would be complicated if you have separate plans. Each plan would be a clear list of what they cover; folks with BMWs aren’t confused by how the dealer takes care of oil changes, etc while their private insurance covers collision and comprehensive.

In terms of the pools of doctors being different, here’s the key: if there is open competition, the plans that will flourish are the ones that allow you to see *any* doctor. This is how the best private plans work today and these are the ones that people will flock towards in the future.

]]> By: Jared http://www.vijaybangaru.com/2009/08/12/how-to-fix-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-42807 Jared Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:20:53 +0000 http://www.vijaybangaru.com/?p=962#comment-42807 I agree with a lot of what you said, especially about the government subsidy for healthcare benefits and providers charging the same for everyone. However, I disagree on insurance companies providing 2 separate models. For cars, the insurance and pre-paid plans cover two very distinct expenses. Car insurance is for those unexpected, rare accidents. However, most health problems are not sudden accidents and having the 'pre-paid' routine coverage is important for preventing and detecting serious health problems. People would/should have both policies, potentially from two different companies. This would complicate the payment system even more. Not to mention the potential of having different pools of doctors for the two different plans. I agree with a lot of what you said, especially about the government subsidy for healthcare benefits and providers charging the same for everyone. However, I disagree on insurance companies providing 2 separate models. For cars, the insurance and pre-paid plans cover two very distinct expenses. Car insurance is for those unexpected, rare accidents. However, most health problems are not sudden accidents and having the ‘pre-paid’ routine coverage is important for preventing and detecting serious health problems. People would/should have both policies, potentially from two different companies. This would complicate the payment system even more. Not to mention the potential of having different pools of doctors for the two different plans.

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