Gary's "Health care plan"..

It should be obvious to all here, I am for "Universal" health care. People will get "sick", that's just the way it is. Then someone will pay, that's a fact. People walk around everyday (spreading chit), that could be solved easy. Had they had "proper care".

So there are problems sorting this. Some think (wrongly), everyone should be able to get health care. Some think (wrongly), people don't because they want someone else to pay the bill. Hey, if your "self employed", or a working "poor", you CAN'T afford it. Indigents get it "Free all the time". Of the 50 Million, in this country. Most that don't have Health Care are the "working poor". People who try, but don't get a break. I'll give my "thoughts" on how I'd solve this. If I was in office. I welcome ANY response.
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1) If you already have a Health care provider (through your employer, or another way), then you would have to do nothing. Stick with what you got. Nobody will be "lowering your coverage". You'd have no reason to Bitch. You won't be paying in anything to cover the poor, or self employed.

2) If you are "poor, self-employed, or otherwise", you would have to pay into a fund. This fund would be for "government" insurance. It wouldn't cover "everything". It would cover the costs of a "Basic" health insurance, so you have something. You (if you can afford) can look elsewhere for further coverage. People with no income, would be covered. Like they are now.

3) On your federal tax return, you would have to prove you have "coverage". If you don't, they will take money out to cover you. The money they take out, will be based on your income you report. This way, everyone who works is paying in somewhere. The "pool" (money collected) will gather interest, and build. There will always be people who can't work, and need coverage. But this will keep those that "work" bringing something in. It will keep "alot of people" (just like me) from going to the ER. Why do we do it, because we know it's far to expensive to pay on our own. We know they "have to treat you". We know we can "Bankrupt" on Hospital bills in a second.

3) I went for a "Heart test" about 20 years ago. I got the bill. It was $2000 for like 20 minutes. I paid that off, and then looked into "private" insurance for my family. I am self-employed. Well they were talking $1000 a month for insurance. With huge $2500 deductables. After that, I just started going to the "Hospital" (when I had something serious) and let them eat the bill. If I could've had "affordable" healthcare, even taken from my income.. I would've supported that. The cost to me was just "too high". I mean, if you think about this "logically", it is better for all in the long run.

4) As it is, people who work for major companies (corporations) don't pay "near" as much as someone who is "self-employed". They are bigger, they get the deal. They get better rates. It's nearly impossible for a "self-employed" person to afford healthcare. What do you want, all small business people to go work in a factory? No, small business keeps the country growing. But they need help too. As it is, I pay "double" taxes that a "non-self employed" person pays. I play the "employer part, as well as my part. Yet I have "nothing" that helps me with healthcare.

5) Social Security takes money from all of us. It's based on income. Now, there are problems with that system, but overall it has worked. Should be same with healthcare. Just leave those out that pay in other ways, and take out from those "working" (and aren't paying in otherwise), but not a set rate. Based on income. That's the "Key" to me. How many "millions" like me are going without insurance. We sure as hell don't want too. But if a little comes out from each of us, we wouldn't miss it. We'd like to see a "doctor" now and then. Maybe avoid a $100,000 bill, that we are likely to let the government (you) eat.

Just my thoughts. Of course with any plan there will be problems. I honestly think this would work. Anyone who worked in a Factory, all their life wouldn't paying anything in to the government. They would have to show on the tax return they have insurance. A really poor working person, that only made a few thousand.. would be paying very minimal. Based on income like I say. It would be harder for people to "abuse the system" as well as the system abusing them.

Again, I welcome any comments. This is the way I'd go at it..

Gary :)