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UPP Care-Plan B. Mandating Participation. 10/25/09

Note-This post is currently under major construction and less than 5% etched in stone.

-After listening to President Obama's speech on health care on 09/09 I decided to rework the original definition of UPP Care I explained in the above posts so that it reflects how UPP Care would work if it was mandated that all those that are eligible must participate in this government UPP Health Care plan. Although I DO NOT personally prefer a mandate to require participation in any health plan I have included these thoughts and ideas to show just how mandating participation in a government plan would work or not.



MANDATING UPP CARE?


IF UPP CARE OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT OPTION IS MANDATED, WHICH IN EFFECT REQUIRES ALL THOSE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE MUST PARTICIPATE, THEN YOU WOULD FIRST PAY UPP CARE THROUGH YOUR TAXES OR A PREMIUM. AN OPTION COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO SELECT A QUALIFYING ALTERNATIVE INSURANCE. IF YOU DECIDE TO SELECT AN ALTERNATIVE INSURANCE YOUR TAXES THAT WHERE DEDUCTED AND SENT INTO UPP CARE WOULD BE CREDITED OR FORWARDED TO THE ALTERNATIVE INSURER DIRECTLY. THEIR WOULD BE NO EXTRA COST OR BURDEN DURING THE YEAR AND NO NEED TO WAIT FOR A TAX VOUCHER. IT WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE INSURER OF YOUR CHOICE IF IT QUALIFIES. IF YOU LATER ABANDON THE ALTERNATE INSURANCE THE TAXES WILL CONTINUE TO BE DEDUCTED BUT USED TOWARDS THE UPP CARE PLAN.



Personally, I am not a fan of mandating health insurance of any kind weather it is private or government controlled. Part of my grievance with mandating a government plan is that if you provide an option that allows the forced participant the choice to switch to an alternative insurance in place of the UPP Care or other government plans you are in effect mandating private health insurance. In order to get out of the mandated government plan you would have little choice but to go with private insurance or stay with the government plan.

But with that said, we must ask ourselves if we are to mandate people to be responsible for their health should we then mandate that they also lock their doors at night, buy a gun to defend their families and force them to purchase birth control as well?

We need an "incentive based" mandate not the treat of a fine or tax if one does not participate.
More to come.