packbat: A bat wearing a big asexual-flag (black-gray-white-purple) backpack. (gettysburg)
packbat ([personal profile] packbat) wrote2010-11-29 10:12 am

Pricing Health Care Mandate Fines

Okay - so you know how the new health care bill is supposed to charge people who voluntarily refuse health insurance (so as to encourage people to sign up)? And you know how emergency rooms have to provide care, even to the uninsured?

How about this: have insurers bid for their price to cover the costs of treating the uninsured in each state. The lowest bid gets their cost divided among the uninsured in that state. That way:
  • The cost to hospitals of emergency room care is paid, and
  • The cost to individuals of refusing health care is controlled by market forces.

    Any obvious flaws?