The Federal Government should Mandate Health Insurance

Richard Ta

Speech 6 CRN:10165

Project #2 Part 2

April 25, 2014

•According to Barack Obama’s “Organizing for Action”, health insurance companies could:

• Deny you health coverage for a pre-existing condition, such as having something as serious as cancer or something as minor as acne.

• You can be dropped from your health coverage as soon as you get sick.

• Set a “lifetime limit” on the amount of health coverage provided by the health insurance company.

In this presentation, I will:

• We need to fix this problem.• Therefore, we must

encourage the idea of mandated health insurance.

• Explain the harms of the status quo.

• Present a plan that could solve current problems.

• Explain the plan and its effectiveness.

• Explore additional benefits to a mandated health insurance.

Two major harms from the status quo is that:

• 2. Health insurance companies have too much power.

• 1. Citizens are discouraged from taking care of their health.

Harm #1: Citizens are discouraged from taking care of their health

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2013, nearly 15% of the uninsured had routine check-ups and nearly 30% of uninsured citizens used medical services.

• Uninsured citizens are forced to pay full prices for medical services.

• Citizens are discouraged from using medical services because of costs.

• Thus, will lead to more people with illnesses or health problems.

Harm #2: Health insurance companies have too much power.

• According to Tampa Bay Times, health insurance companies have the power to deny customers with pre-existing health conditions.

• This meant that not everyone had access to health insurance.

• Those with pre-existing conditions were forced to pay high prices for health coverage.

The Cause• (Structural Inherency)

There are little to no regulations on health insurance companies.

• Health insurance companies are able to manipulate their coverage and services for their customers.

• They have ultimate power on who receives health insurance.

Plan of Action• Agency: Congress• Mandates:

• Congress will pass a bill that mandates health insurance for all U.S. citizens.

• Congress will form a government-run health insurance company in order to low costs for low income citizens.

• In turn, this will allow for cheaper and more competitive

• Congress will include laws that will be implemented to all health insurance companies.

• Citizens with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied health coverage by any insurance company.

• Health insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage to current customers based on current or future conditions.

• Enforcement: Fines will be issued to citizens and companies who do not comply to the new plan.• Companies

• First offense: $50,000• Second offense: $100,000• Third offense: $500,000 and mandatory closure of company.

• Citizens• First offense: $1,000• Second offense: $5,000• Third offense: $10,000

• Funding and Staffing: New government-run health insurance company will hire approximately 1,000-2,000 workers in order to maintain an operational health insurance company.

• Timeline: To be effective on January 1, 2015.

Plan of Action (cont.)

• Harm #1: We mandate health insurance upon our citizens.• Mandating health insurance will provide affordable access

to medical services such as doctor visits, hospital use, etc.

• Harm #2: We pass a bill with new laws and regulations health insurance companies and citizens must abide by.• With laws that enforce a fair and equal opportunity to health

care coverage, nobody will be denied health insurance due to health conditions.

• Having a government-run health care insurance company will create competition in the health insurance market, thus decreasing prices to make it affordable for everyone.

Solvency

Additional Benefits

• Cheaper rates in the health care market will provide more competition.

• There will be more employment due to opportunities for new companies to arise.

• The quality of life in the U.S. will increase due to health insurance for all.

• Please consider ensuring equal opportunity for health insurance and protection.

•Mandate health insurance!

Conclusion