Premiums
In the spirit of John Rawls, we must first concede that some circumstances, in the course of living, ‘could happen to anyone.’ Thanks to years of solid research, we must also concede that some circumstances, in the course of living, could happen to anyone born into specific socio-economic situations, and since all of us seem stubbornly slow to rectify those particular situations, we are—by virtue of our inaction—complicit in whatever health costs emanate from them.
It is to cover for these statistically common though individually random events that healthcare ‘premiums’ exist. To maintain fairness, however, premiums should go up in cost as we age, as there are some of us who will not make it to old age, and it seems somewhat cold, in hindsight, if we should take their money, presumably because they aren’t going to need it anyway. Coupled with The Third Option’s ‘retirement dividends’, seniors will have no trouble covering these higher costs, anyway.
NOTE:
- A $25 / month charge had to be added to children ages 0-18 yrs., as kids receive an amazing number of injuries through play, sports, and general ‘rough-housing.’
- Premiums could be collected in a similar manner to payroll taxes—subtracted from employee salaries prior to income tax assessment.
Copays
Some of us get sick, and we just ride it out. Some of us go to the doctor every time we sneeze. Copays are individual costs, allowing “you to do you”. Enough said.
NOTE:Of the $10 per prescription charge, $5 is to cover drug cost, another $2.50 is to cover the cost of the many drug-related visits to hospitals, outpatient centers, and doctor’s offices. The remaining $2.50 is to cover the cost of drug related motor vehicle accidents (other than alcohol)
Other Sources of Healthcare Funding
1. Possible Additions to Premiums = $4 Billion Maximum
The following are charges we hope never to implement, but if our health care system is lacking enough funds, the chances are it is because too many citizens are obese, or physically inactive, or suffering from chronic illnesses. Our desire is that No one would ever exceed a $150 a month premium, but there may be a $25 bump for each of the following conditions:
- Not Passing Your Yearly Physical for consecutive years
- Testing will be done at your local high school by our Medical Staff-in-training; test will center around your weight, Visceral Fat distribution, plus any numbers concerning your heart, your lungs, your blood sugar, your cholesterol, and your general fitness level.
- Obesity, pre-diabetes, pre-cancer, plus tobacco / alcohol / drug screening is crucial to curb chronic illnesses before it is too late
- To waive costs for some, an exercise /diet program will be implemented and monitored using a physical activity tracker
- The only thing needed to waive this $25 increase is to show improvement in your numbers each year – you can also choose to not get the physical and just pay the extra monthly increase (you have a right to be unhealthy, but you need to pay for that right – your “preventable” health care costs should not be paid by others)
- Having a Chronic Illness
- once an incurable disease must be managed, our health care system will need help to provide your care; outside donations will be accepted for specific illnesses, both for care management and continuing research, and would represent one of our rate income tax deductions.
- Being ‘Accident Prone’
- Insurance naturally goes up when you become “a risk”. If you live a risky lifestyle and find yourself using well beyond your allotted share of health care, you may incur this charge.
NOTE: in all these cases, you will be warned the year prior to receiving any additional charge on your premium. If we fail to make health care cheaper through time, and are forced to raise premiums, these extra costs will fall on everyone equally.
FYI: Currently, 133 million Americans suffer from chronic illnesses. 78 million Americans are obese. 24 million are morbidly obese. 24 million are killing themselves with alcohol and apparently cannot stop. Another 6.6 million Americans are smoking a pack or more a day. 2.6 million are using opioids or heroin currently. Given these numbers, it is likely this additional Health Fund will generate another $5 Billion.
2. Leftover Retirement Dividends = $80.45 Billion [by year 8] (6.6% of total needed)
Upon the death of any citizen, all money remaining in the Retirement Dividend (plus any portion held in Reserve) will be absorbed into the annual Health Care Funding. Here is a possible breakdown of the first 8 years of the Dividend. (CDC estimates 2017 Number of deaths: 2,712,630)
* $1,313 is the yearly reserve amount, which remains untouched in each account, to cover any loan defaults.
** + $684, etc., is the amount of interest that is beginning to accumulate in each citizen’s account.
***This $80.45 Billion is the estimated amount available for our Health Care after 8 years.
NOTE:
Numbers indicate that down the road, as much as $600 Billion a year could be left over from the passing of 2.7 million Americans, as Benefits will continue to accumulate year after year. This money can be used wherever it is needed, but paying down the National Debt comes to mind, as this will be enough to actually cut into the principle.
