The Federation of American Hospitals has released a healthcare reform proposal that will provide coverage to 98% of Americans “by building on what works in our system”--namely, employer-sponsored insurance and Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
The plan, entitled “Health Coverage Passport,” would subsidize all or some of the cost of health insurance premiums, depending on income, for individuals living below 400% of the federal poverty level if they are not eligible for Medicaid or SCHIP. Health coverage passports would be issued directly to individuals, who would use them to pay the premiums for employer-sponsored insurance if it was available. Under the plan, employer coverage would insure 55% of Americans. People who purchase insurance in the individual market would use the passports to pay premiums if they were eligible, and all premiums would be tax-deductible. Individual insurance plans would also be held to the same quality as major employers’ health plans. In addition, Medicaid and SCHIP would be expanded to cover more low-income Americans. To ensure coverage, individuals who are uninsured when they file tax returns or see a healthcare provider wwould be enrolled in the program and be expected to pay the premiums less any subsidies. The cost to the federal government: an additional $115.2 billion.
FAH also released a survey of voters that identifies health care as the most important domestic issue for the president and Congress to address, and 79% said a presidential candidate’s position on health coverage for the uninsured would affect their vote. Download the proposal.
