Expand and strengthen the state's private insurance companies as more young Texans enter the market with premium support. Texas can expect savings through more appropriate use of medical care, lower numbers in Medicaid, and savings from greater cost-sharing by recipients. Texas must refuse to comply with new high-risk pools. There are many reasons why Texas should not comply, but the main reason is poor planning. Currently eighteen states have decided not to participate in these pools, Texas is undecided. Any person with a pre-existing medical condition who has been uninsured for six months will be eligible for benefits. The law gave discretion to the Department of Health in determining qualifying conditions. In theory, the Department of Health could say the flu is a pre-existing medical condition. If Texas refuses to comply with these pools, it is only a matter of time before demand exceeds supply. A big concern is, once the funding runs out, what state politicians will do. I see two options. First, state officials will end the coverage all together and pull the plug. Two, continue to allow the program to operate with the use of state taxpayer dollars. The uniform federal healthcare system should be Texas-based, not the other way around. With a soon-to-be-implemented universal pricing system, the government is forcing insurance companies to sell the healthcare portion of the company just to exit the market. Texas must oppose Obamacare by implementing its own changes that will increase competition in the health insurance industry and therefore reduce costs. Texas officials must reduce market entry to start-up health insurance companies to help foster competition. A uniform healthcare system might have a lower price tag but… middle of the paper… the federal government and the Texas government if Obamacare were implemented. Under Obamacare, Texas would become a regular member of the federal government, running the U.S. Department of Health's program. Major parts of the Affordable Care Act won't take effect for a few years, but Texas must do everything it can to redesign, abolish or dismantle it. Texas officials must also realize that we are not a messenger from the federal government. We are a powerful, self-sufficient state with the power to control our healthcare system. There is absolutely nothing that requires Texas to help us use this senseless legislation. Frankly, Texas needs to make the most of opportunities to use its authority to create better solutions than one-size-fits-all federal healthcare requirements. Texas must do what is right for its people.
tags