A ‘Third Way’ On Health Care That Works From the Netherlands
There was an editorial in the NEJM a few years ago laying out a similar model as the dutch.
Basically the idea would be to give everyone a voucher to buy a very basic plan and then allow people to buy additional coverage. This usually happens with medicare right now in that most people buy a secondary plan to help pick up the 20% Medicare doesn’t cover (no, Medicare only covers 80%, period). If you got rid of Medicare, Medicaid, Indian Health Services, VA, SCHIPs, WIC (did I miss any?) and gave every CITIZEN $2500 per year voucher, It would only cost $750 billion. OK, not chump change, but that is close to what we are paying now. Personally, I would prefer a tax break and be allowed to choose my own coverage. I guarantee if the government got out of health care entirely, it would be less expensive overall and the average joe would become a savvy consumer real fast.
