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.
The Vermont Plan shifts the state’s health care focus toward preventive care services and wellness. The Plan provides for free immunizations at all ages. It also offers discounts on premiums (Healthy Lifestyles Insurance Discounts) for Vermonters who participate in preventive care and wellness programs. It seeks to advance nutrition guidelines in schools and eliminate all trans fats from Vermont restaurants. The plan organizes a working group to investigate remedies for obesity and other weight issues. The Vermont state government’s Catamount Health Plan will also cover preventive care. Community health programs, too, will supplement the work of preventive programs.
The Obama Plan’s National Health Insurance Exchange requires all plans to cover preventive care. It seeks, in order to reduce long-term health care expenditures, to invest in preventive and primary care. Much of the plans focus on primary care will be directed through investment at the community care level.
The Canadian system focuses on offering universal, accessible primary care. More recent reforms have attempted to intensify the Canadian system’s focus on the provision of primary care and community care.