The Federal Government should Mandate Health Insurance

1. The Federal Government should Mandate Health Insurance Richard Ta Speech 6 CRN:10165 Project #2 Part 2 April 25, 2014

2. According to Barack Obama’s “Organizing for Action”, health insurance companies could: • Deny you health coverage for a pre-existing condition, such as having something as serious as cancer or something as minor as acne. • You can be dropped from your health coverage as soon as you get sick. • Set a “lifetime limit” on the amount of health coverage provided by the health insurance company.

3. In this presentation, I will: • We need to fix this problem. • Therefore, we must encourage the idea of mandated health insurance. • Explain the harms of the status quo. • Present a plan that could solve current problems. • Explain the plan and its effectiveness. • Explore additional benefits to a mandated health insurance.

4. Two major harms from the status quo is that: • 2. Health insurance companies have too much power. • 1. Citizens are discouraged from taking care of their health.

5. Harm #1: Citizens are discouraged from taking care of their health • According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2013, nearly 15% of the uninsured had routine check-ups and nearly 30% of uninsured citizens used medical services. • Uninsured citizens are forced to pay full prices for medical services. • Citizens are discouraged from using medical services because of costs. • Thus, will lead to more people with illnesses or health problems.

6. Harm #2: Health insurance companies have too much power. • According to Tampa Bay Times, health insurance companies have the power to deny customers with pre-existing health conditions. • This meant that not everyone had access to health insurance. • Those with pre-existing conditions were forced to pay high prices for health coverage.

7. The Cause • (Structural Inherency)There are little to no regulations on health insurance companies. • Health insurance companies are able to manipulate their coverage and services for their customers. • They have ultimate power on who receives health insurance.

8. Plan of Action • Agency: Congress • Mandates: • Congress will pass a bill that mandates health insurance for all U.S. citizens. • Congress will form a government-run health insurance company in order to low costs for low income citizens. • In turn, this will allow for cheaper and more competitive • Congress will include laws that will be implemented to all health insurance companies. • Citizens with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied health coverage by any insurance company. • Health insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage to current customers based on current or future conditions.

9. Plan of Action (cont.) • Enforcement: Fines will be issued to citizens and companies who do not comply to the new plan. • Companies • First offense: $50,000 • Second offense: $100,000 • Third offense: $500,000 and mandatory closure of company. • Citizens • First offense: $1,000 • Second offense: $5,000 • Third offense: $10,000 • Funding and Staffing: New government-run health insurance company will hire approximately 1,000-2,000 workers in order to maintain an operational health insurance company. • Timeline: To be effective on January 1, 2015.

10. Solvency • Harm #1: We mandate health insurance upon our citizens. • Mandating health insurance will provide affordable access to medical services such as doctor visits, hospital use, etc. • Harm #2: We pass a bill with new laws and regulations health insurance companies and citizens must abide by. • With laws that enforce a fair and equal opportunity to health care coverage, nobody will be denied health insurance due to health conditions. • Having a government-run health care insurance company will create competition in the health insurance market, thus decreasing prices to make it affordable for everyone.

11. Additional Benefits • Cheaper rates in the health care market will provide more competition. • There will be more employment due to opportunities for new companies to arise. • The quality of life in the U.S. will increase due to health insurance for all.

12. Conclusion • Please consider ensuring equal opportunity for health insurance and protection. • Mandate health insurance!