Healthcare in small chunks, part 2

Levels of care

When it comes to healthcare, some folks want a lot and others want little to none. Most want something in between. I see the goal of healthcare for all as a way to provide a decent minimum option. Individuals will view as an acceptable minimum differently.

Classify healthcare in 3 levels. There will be multiple plans in each level, but the core of the plans are similar in each level.

It's easy to use traffic lights because people are very familiar with them.

The minimum level would be red. This will establish what you get if you are not in an existing health plan. This is the only level that has a lot of governmental intervention. Mostly because the federal governemnt would be actively involved in paying for these services and determining what you get in the red level plans. Many of these services will be preventative, optional services that improve your chances for healthy living. Much of this could be done by medical professionals that are not doctors, such as nutritionists, physicians assistants, nurse practitioners, dental hygenists, etc. Doctors would be used for real medical issues beyond colds and the actual critical care that is needed for emergencies and significant health issues. No more stops at the emergency room to get basic care because someone lacks insurance.

The primary front of the red plans would be cost effective health care clinics and true emergency services. The second level would be referred health services for more significant problems. There are few primary care physicians in this plan.

The next level would be yellow. There are more elective features in this level. Many of these plans would fit traditional ranges of healthcare insurance as most people know it through their employers. The primary front would be the traditional primary care physicians. There would also be choices for the same services. (Examples--choice of color for cast here, no choice in red plan. Fewer options means less inventory management costs for red plan. From a quality of care level, there might be more access to choice. In yellow, you can get a thinner, more expensive eyeglass lens that is included in the price of the plan. In red, you would have to pay extra if you wanted the more advanced lens.)

The top level would be green. The highest levels of services are here and likely include many elective procedures and higher levels of availability. For what you pay, there is even more choice and service levels included in the plan.

Ultimately the tiers would be identified by price, not by service. Much of the healthcare debate is about the funds to provide services. If the average person could get 24/7 coverage with house calls from a great medical group for 1/2 the price of their current insurance, I think they would run to that deal.

The policy makers would have to figure out the numbers, but it might break out as 25% red, 65% yellow, 10% green.

These estimates are based on the following assumptions. Red plan would be uninisured people under 65 + medicare/medicaid people + a few folks who see this plan as superior to their current insurance and buy into the plan. Yellow plan would be most of the currently insured with decent to very good health plans. (Maybe those plans that would get D+/C- to B+ grades for cost.) The green plans would the the A plans.

Here are some healthcare stats via the CDC that may help you get a better feel for some of the details.

Bottom line, everyone gets access to real healthcare, but not quite the same as it has been done in the past for those who are on the public plan. Next part of this deal--how do we pay for it. It's more complex than letting the federal government keep printing paper money.