A Better Mousetrap?

It's no secret: the roll-out of the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") has been an unmitigated disaster.

Glitchy and buggy website aside, there have been quite a few problems with the program.
One of the first that comes to mind is the fact that regardless of what the President said regarding people's ability to keep their health care plans, many people received letters from their carriers stating that they actually would not be able to.

This begs a question.
"How could you put together a better, more efficient health care program?"

Here are few ideas on how it could be possible.

1) Allow people to keep their current plans and doctors if they wish, as promised.

2) Create a larger, international policy exchange that would stretch across international borders.
When insurance carriers compete, you win.

3) Modify the Medicare program so that:

- Those without insurance (no matter what age) could enroll in the program.

- Periodic (just prior to payday, for example), computerized reporting of hours (and wages) would be automatically tracked and sent out to federal authorities. This type of system would help to accurately determine one's eligibility for subsidies, as well as eliminate the need for federal income tax filings. You would just be required to notify your employer(s) of any change in your tax status. You could even reduce the numbers of I.R.S. agents on the rolls. Efficiency is the key, and who likes being harassed?

- Over time, the program would shift from a single-payer model to a subsidized, free-market-based, voucher-run exchange program. One cannot take funds designated for health care funding to buy an iPhone, for example. This would also minimize disruption for those currently in retirement, and approaching retirement.

4) Set up an e-mail based prayer request website.
It would contain drop-down menus and the ability to group similar issues together in a neat, tidy filing and sorting system. You would receive an e-mail notification telling you when your request has been noted and acted upon. You could proceed from there. A small one-time fee (I am a union member) would be required to help subsidize the overhaul and ensure a smooth transition for all of those involved. People waste money on all sorts of ridiculous things on a continuous basis. What value do you place upon your health?

5) With less need for both complex and simple procedures and practices (Oncology, Orthopedic surgery, Cardiology, etc.), the cream would be required to rise to the top. Only the best doctors and prospects would be retained, and their skills could be sharpened and retained using animals for practice. Minimum standards of care would be required, such as making sure someone is available to take care of you at a hospital, and the assurance that you wouldn't be required to travel an inordinate amount of distance to receive the care that you need. Doctors who would be let go could receive vocational training and schooling to place them in a new profession or field of study to keep them gainfully employed. It is obviously not practical to have such an overhaul occur overnight. This would take a few years to take place.

These ideas would help to curb and reduce soaring health care costs.
There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Think about it.