So the GOP masses want to repeal health care reform. The biggest complaints heard are that they don't want the government mucking in their health care or they think anything besides buying insurance on the free market is "socialist.
Maybe there is a way to give them what they want but still solve the current health care mess for the people who know enough to know that we really need a solution to the health care status quo.
Some of the extreme right will complain to no end that they don't want the government interfering in their health care. So lets give people a choice. This level of options might just free the rest of us up to finally have universal health insurance while diverting the dissenters out of the fray.
Set a series of options within national health insurance but there would also be consequences for those who opt out. If we structure it right those who want to opt out can do so, they can also suffer the consequences of their actions.
Of the multiple options have one that is a government run national health insurance somewhat along the lines of Medicare only with a better core set of policy coverage (no donut hole etc.). Then also offer private sector coverage options that meet federal policy standards for coverage. This is sort of how Medicare is currently set up. You can buy the straight medicare or opt for one of the private sector Medicare plans either at the same price or for a small additional fee to get those extra offered benefits.
Then also offer a free market alternative. These policies would be totally unregulated and would have to declare such in the name of the plan. If someone formally declares they want free market private sector insurance they can buy that but then they can't jump back into one of the federally managed plans for a set period of time, maybe 5-10 years. This would prevent people from buying crappy possibly cheaper coverage on the free market but then trying to jump back to good federal coverage when they get sick or have a larger health need.
Make the entire thing employer/employee tax funded. So instead of paying premiums directly to the company the money goes to the fed and you get it back in credits that can be used either on the safe, smart federal plans or on the risky free market plans.
Now add to this that anyone covered on a federal plan would have their medical debt absolved from hurting them financially. It would have to reflect different on credit scores and you would get more bankruptcy protection. But since a federal plan would not leave people stuck with huge bills like most free market plans do this would be much less of a problem for those smart enough to pick a federal plan with oversight that isn't just out to make a buck at your expense. Those on the free market plans get no protection. They would be stuck with the current system of lousy coverage, where you are hounded for medical bills and would have to file a normal blanket bankruptcy if your medical bills get to be too much.
So what is the point of all of this? We give the free market fanboys what they want. They can take it but they then get to suffer the consequences of their actions, get sick, go broke. They can have their unregulated coverage that stinks and covers nothing. Providers are not under any obligation to accept it if they think it will not cover the patients expenses or for other reasons. Meanwhile the free market fanboys would be stuck with their decision for another 5-10 years beyond the point they realize it was a bad idea.
The rest of us have the security of full coverage and the single payer insurance we have wanted and know is the right solution for so long.
I am sure there are hitches in my idea but I think the core of it works. Give them what they want, the rest of us can move ahead and reap the benefits because we are smart enough to not act against our own best interests.
The same concept could be used for other social programs. Let people pull out of social security, food stamps and social security disability safety nets. But in turn the rest of society owes them absolutely nothing. We can point at them begging on street corners or burdening their families as bad examples of greed and stupidity.