I absolutely agree with your logic on healthcare and I do think it could be a solution - but only part of a solution. The drawbacks of course is all those people out there who cannot hold on to a dime for anything - some could but don't - some just can't - not enough money. That is where that plan would fall short. You and I are able to put the deductible aside in savings for that medical rainy day. We'd be taken care of and it makes perfect sense to me. As I'm talking about it here - I'm thinking it does sound a little like someone was planning another type of welfare system when developing HMO's (the dems?). I remember the days when we had the good ole 80/20 plans with a deductible and you didn't hear of any problems with our healthcare in this country then. But then I also remember not having the money at the time for that deductible or the 20 percent. I was just too poor at the time. Given a life-threatening situation, death would have been the only thing I could afford.
I'd also like to mention, I remember reading an article on how those 80/20 plans were making money and holding up the HMO's that were losing money hand over fist. We saw the bigger picture way back then and look at where it has been allowed to take us. What were we thinking?
Going back to these 80/20 plans with a deductible would only work for some of us. To be fair, we'd have to figure out something for the rest of the citizens who just can't do it. I like the sound of your plan. It's on the right track. Try to create what we had in the past. You know the days when we actually knew what a hospital room cost and could realistically face it?
The drawbacks of course is all those people out there who cannot hold on to a dime for anything - some could but don't - some just can't - not enough money.I know, that's why I proposed it as something to replace insurance that people have through their employers. Once someone signed up for the plan, the money would actually go into an account that couldn't be used for anything other than medical expenses...until any remainder might be taken as taxable income on retirement or death (by heirs). Maybe, you could borrow against any overage (above and beyond the deductible)...like a 401K...don't know...just brainstorming and tossing around ideas.
I even thought, that to combat any resistance by insurance companies..they could get into the business of managing individual medical savings accounts...most of them are in the retirement or pension business, anyway.
Picture this, the account would be like a money market..drawing some small measure of interest for it's holder. A card (like an ATM) could be issued. Then, when you went to the Doctor, YOUR money could be automatically withdrawn with one swipe. Again, it would be YOUR money, so you would have incentive not to spend it without necessity.
Imagine the joy of the Doc's...not to have to deal with the insurance paperwork and dictates.
Of course, the catastrophic policy would kick in for any major events, but people would still have an incentive to save up to cover any non-covered items.
As far as those without means to have any insurance, tax breaks might give employers an incentive to start to offer something like this. Even if we can get SOME additional employers to offer insurance, we would be better off.
Thanks for the reply...let me know if you have any additional ideas...maybe we can solve the "health care crisis" right here on FR. We'd better get credit, though!