"If health care reform occurs, it is likely to include an individual mandate, a requirement that every American have health insurance," The Kansas City Star reports.
"In theory, health coverage would work something like the requirement that drivers buy auto insurance. But everyone knows someone who has been hit by an uninsured, and sometimes even an unlicensed, driver." Although such a mandate could be difficult to enforce, it "appears to be the best way to ensure coverage for the most people."
Bending the Curve Requires Health Care Reform, Not Just Sick Care Reform
As President Obama and Congress struggle to bend the rising cost curve in order to make health care available to all Americans.
As President Obama and Congress struggle to bend the rising cost curve in order to make health care available to all Americans.
"The individual mandate would be accompanied by public subsidies for those who couldn't afford the price of health insurance, whether on the open market, through an insurance exchange or from a government option."
"To achieve universal coverage, an individual mandate is necessary to spread the risk pool, insurance companies say. It is considered the only way to insure that young, healthy people buy in and that people don't game the system by opting in and out as their health needs occur." In order to enforce the mandate, "[l]egislative proposals call for penalizing individuals who don't buy health insurance by fining them. Suggested penalties would take the form of an income tax penalty, either as a flat fee or a percentage of individuals' adjusted gross incomes" (Stafford, 9/1).
Survey Shows That Most Americans Believe The 'Myths' Of Their Proposed Healthcare Reform
Do Americans believe controversial assertions about health care reform including death panels, threats to Medicare, abortions, illegal immigrants, and other claims which
Do Americans believe controversial assertions about health care reform including death panels, threats to Medicare, abortions, illegal immigrants, and other claims which
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Insurance Agents Look Into The Future And See Uncertainty And "Opportunity"
For the tens of thousands of individual insurance agents nationwide, the idea of a health system overhaul hits close to home – and work.
For the tens of thousands of individual insurance agents nationwide, the idea of a health system overhaul hits close to home – and work.
Insurance Insiders Give Views On Health Reform
In an interview with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington state Insurance Commissioner called the American health system out-dated.
In an interview with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington state Insurance Commissioner called the American health system out-dated.
