Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A Broker's Ideas on Healthcare

I have been a health insurance broker in the state of California for the past five years and have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly regarding our healthcare system. As with many reform efforts, many times the powers that be cannot see the forest for the trees. It is my humble opinion that the healthcare system in this country can be fixed in a more simplistic fashion than implementing more spending and debt at a time when fiscal responsibility needs to be the order of the day.

I am not in favor of a government controlled healthcare system or increased governmental intervention in our lives. There is no question that our current healthcare system needs a major overhaul, but the $64K question is “how do we accomplish this.”

My own opinion of a workable healthcare system would include the following:

• Government funded and operated clinics geared to lower income individuals that focus on basic and preventive services.
• Government subsidies for those with declinable pre-existing conditions who would purchase a select pool of private health plans that are guaranteed issue.
• Federally legislated plans instead of state legislated. Full portability of coverage amongst states.
• Universal underwriting standards. There is far too much inconsistency in medical underwriting by insurance companies.
• Universal disclosure legislation which would eliminate certain insurance companies from misleading consumers and force the insurers to eliminate many of the asterisks in plan disclosures.
• Continuation of tax benefits for businesses that offer group health plans.

In short, I do not feel that this administration should be allowed to force a plan upon the American public that will not be financially feasible. It appears to me that many are more concerned with fulfilling a campaign promise than debating one of the most important issues of our lifetime. Only through debate and sharing of ideas and philosophies can a workable healthcare plan be achieved in these times of economic chaos.

John F. Pack
CA Insurance License 0D98889
866-323-6697
949-400-4729 (cell)
calrep@cox.net

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