The Mayo Clinic is recommending to the presidential
candidates and members of Congress that every individual have basic universal
insurance as a step toward gradually replacing the current employer based
system.
The Mayo Clinic is not advocating a government run single
payer system, but rather that private insurance companies be required to offer
standard plans with many options like the Federal Employees Health Benefits
Plan available to government workers.
The Mayo Clinic and a panel of over 400 health policy
experts worked on this proposal for over 18 months.
Under the proposal, smaller employers would no longer
sponsor coverage but would contribute to plans that their employees could
select from an outside insurer.
Also under the proposal, employees could keep their
individual policies when they changed jobs under the proposal.
The panel does not believe in relinquishing the
employer-sponsored health care system, rather they believe that the employer
has a role, the government has a role, and individuals also have a
responsibility to provide health care for all.
Linda M. Dillman, a panelist who is an executive vice
president in charge of health and environmental issues at Wal-Mart said health
care should be a shared responsibility.
Without a shared financial responsibility and commitment
across stakeholders, it will be difficult for the United States to achieve universal
coverage.
Even someone with a $50,000 income would need help paying
for insurance that now costs $11,000 or $12,000 a year.
Two democratic candidates, Mr. Obama and John Edwards both
put forth health plans that would encourage individuals to join insurance
purchasing groups and pool their power to get better coverage.
Recent polls show that opinion leaders and the public both view expanded access to affordable health insurance as the most critical domestic policy challenge facing the nation. Policymakers at the state and federal levels are listening. Massachusetts
and other states are taking the lead on expanding coverage for all.
