The Obama Plan does not require that all Americans obtain health insurance. It does require that all children have health care coverage. It seeks to make health insurance accessible enough so that everyone who wants to be covered can be.
The Obama plan does not outline direct mechanisms to reduce costs by pooling risk. However, it does require insurance companies to cover risky patients at “fair and stable premiums.” The proposed National Health Insurance Exchange, too, would require insurers to offer policies to citizens priced irrespective of health status. The plan also incentivizes an increase in employer-based coverage, which is likely to increase group insurance markets and effectively pool risk.
The Obama Plan could allow for the importation of prescription drugs that meet health standards from other “developed countries.”
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.
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 Obama plan would increase funding for community-based health programs. It would also promote school-based health and wellness programs.
The Obama does not propose direct measures to change Medicaid eligibility. However, it does pledge to provide universal access to medical care for children. It also guarantees access to affordable health care subsidies for all individuals who cannot afford private health insurance.