Coupled with no-fault malpractice, this is what some want nationwide. Let’s see how it does in PA. I think that any reform like this will get shot down by the special interests, as there’s just too much opposition to a single-payer system.
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I’ve actually been communicating with the people who sponsored/created this plan for quite a while through Liability Update, and while I think the people involved have the noblest of intentions and are genuinely trying to do good, the details are REALLY daunting, particularly the finances.
I haven’t read the legislation yet, nor do I know how much of it mirrors the original concept, but the original plan, on the website of the American Healthcare Party (http://www.healthcareparty.org/index.html), calls for:
A flat 4.5% payroll withholding with an employer match of 4.5% as a Uni-Coverage Premium. The existing combined Medicare tax of 2.5% would be eliminated and all of the amounts paid by both the employee and the employer would be fully tax-deductible. Employer sponsored group health care plans and all other private and government insurance would become unnecessary.
A 10% sales and services “Wellness Tax” on all products and services excepting the following:
Nutritious foods
The first $50 of any single article of clothing
The first $10,000 of any new or used vehicle
Rent or debt service on a primary residence
Tuition, fees and textbooks
Most athletic equipment and exercise clubs fees
Vitamins, over the counter drugs, home health supplies.
An additional 10% tax (total of 20%) Wellness Tax on hazardous activities, related equipment, and substances which increase the need for medical care such as:
Motorcycles and ATVs
Alcohol
Tobacco
Firearms
Junk food
An annual motor vehicle registration fee of $100 for private automobiles and $500 for commercial vehicles
In the event of a regional or national health crisis, including catastrophic natural or man made disaster, the Wellness Tax and Uni-Coverage Premium percentages could be increased as needed on a moment’s notice to generate immediately needed funds.
Where funding exceeds spending the Uni-Coverage Premium and/or Wellness Tax rates will be easily adjusted to best match revenue to expenditures.
Congress will not control the Uni-Coverage Premiums or Wellness Taxes nor be able to divert these funds to other uses. Rather, the rates to be charged shall be set exclusively by the Uni-Coverage Commission and all of the money collected will be deposited to and be exclusively managed by the Uni-Coverage Fund which will be kept completely separate from the National Treasury.
To me, the numbers just didn’t add up….and I see a lot of social gerrymandering in how those numbers are applied – nor do I think there’s a political snowball’s chance in you-know-where that this particular plan will gain any traction…
Again, I’ve corresponded with Steve Larchuk and I believe his intentions to be excellent and I know he’s worked his tail off on this….but I agree with Kevin that it’s unlikely to happen….
No word from any of the physician groups in PA yet on where they’d stand on this…
If they think the US health care system is “dysfunctional”, wait until they see what a single payer system looks like. then you’ll really see dysfunction. And, if they think health care costs are “crushing”, wait until taxes go through the roof to pay for such a single payer system.
But, I like the no fault malpractice. That way when people can’t get in to see a doctor for 6 months, or are told they can’t have this test, this procedure, this medication etc. at least the doctors will be protected.
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