Exchange
How do people select a health care plan?

Each of the policies that addresses this issue and their proposed steps are below:
Baucus Health Care Reform Proposal proposed by Max Baucus, Senate Finance Committee Chairman

The plan creates a Health Insurance Exchange to develop a transparent market for quality health insurance that guarantees access for all Americans.  The Exchange would communicate information about the cost and quality of health care options available to individuals and small businesses.  It would allow Americans to shop for health insurance that meets quality standards.  The exchange will only offer health care options that are comprehensive, non-discriminatory and meet certain quality standards.  The funding model for the exchange will mirror that of Massachusetts’ Commonwealth Connector program, placing a small tax on premium payments. 


Massachusetts Health Care Reform proposed by Massachusetts State Legislature

The Massachusetts HC plan creates the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector (CHIC).  CHIC seeks to create an efficient market structure for health insurance that connects “small businesses and [employed] individuals with health care products” that meet their needs.  Insurance options available through the connector must be portable and meet a high quality standard.  The exchange is funded with a small tax on premium payments.


Obama Health Care Plan proposed by Obama for President

The Obama Plan creates a National Health Insurance Exchange (NHIE) in order to increase the transparency of available health care options.  The NHIE would be a regulated market for individuals and small businesses to purchase health care plans that meet specific criteria for quality, comprehensiveness and portability.  The NHIE will feature public as well as private options.  Purchasing through the NHIE is meant to be simple, easy and flexible.


Taking Massachusetts National proposed by Jonathan Gruber, The Brookings Institution and the Hamilton Project
Middle- and high-income individuals may purchase health insurance through state HealthMarts which are modeled to reflect the Commonwealth Connector insurance market.
"The Misguided Quest for Universal Coverage" proposed by Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review
The plan proposes that individuals move away from acquiring health insurance through an employer-based system.  The ability for individuals to obtain their own healthcare, Ponnuru argues, ensures portaility and avoids fall-out from the impending collapse of the employer-based system.

Conservative Principles of Health Care Reform proposed by Michael Enzi, The Heritage Foundation
Enzi's principles stress that individuals should be able to select from competing private insurance plans.  While Congress should be sure to lightly regulate the private insurance market so that insurance companies do not cherry-pick the least risky patients, Enzi maintains that competition among private companies on price and quality will make for the most effective healthcare system.

Coming Soon
Re-imagining Community Colleges (CAP) in Education by Center for American Progress



Login
 
 
 

Policies Related to this Issue
Baucus Health Care Reform Proposal proposed by Max Baucus, Senate Finance Committee Chairman
Massachusetts Health Care Reform proposed by Massachusetts State Legislature
Obama Health Care Plan proposed by Obama for President
Taking Massachusetts National proposed by Jonathan Gruber, The Brookings Institution and the Hamilton Project
"The Misguided Quest for Universal Coverage" proposed by Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review
Conservative Principles of Health Care Reform proposed by Michael Enzi, The Heritage Foundation