by Nice to read what’s going on at the Whitehouse after President Barack Obama was sworn in earlier today: they have some sensible thoughts about helthcare in the US the complete transcript of which you can read here.
The 7 key reforms listed on the site are as follows:
- “Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions so all Americans regardless of their health status or history can get comprehensive benefits at fair and stable premiums.”
- “Create a new Small Business Health Tax Credit to help small businesses provide affordable health insurance to their employees.”
- “Lower costs for businesses by covering a portion of the catastrophic health costs they pay in return for lower premiums for employees.”
- “Prevent insurers from overcharging doctors for their malpractice insurance and invest in proven strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.”
- “Make employer contributions more fair by requiring large employers that do not offer coverage or make a meaningful contribution to the cost of quality health coverage for their employees to contribute a percentage of payroll toward the costs of their employees’ health care.”
- “Establish a National Health Insurance Exchange with a range of private insurance options as well as a new public plan based on benefits available to members of Congress that will allow individuals and small businesses to buy affordable health coverage.”
- “Ensure everyone who needs it will receive a tax credit for their premiums.”
Some of these concepts will be unfamiliar to our British and European students. How much will this cost the US taxpayer? $65 billion is just the start. It will be interesting to see if the medical training comes under closer scrutiny under the new regime.