The VHA approach might be worth looking into however the system probably should be open to all and not just vets. Currently dozens of hospitals are being sued for overcharging the uninsured. Below is a link to one such suit, there are many more ro be found with a quick google search.
It is ironic that those who find themselves without insurance because of layoffs etc.. are required to subsidize the insured. I guess soon it will also be harder to keep their house with the new bankruptcy law.
Quote:
Lawsuit Filed Against NC Hospitals
Insurance companies negotiate with hospitals and set specific rates for medical services. Often these rates are based on the Medicare reimbursement schedule. So there is little room here for passing on these costs. The insurers will only pay for the medical services received. They will not pay for these overhead costs.
So the only people hospitals can pass their costs onto are uninsured patients.
This has lead to an awkward situation where uninsured patients – the people who can least afford expensive medical treatments – are billed at rates 2 to 5 times higher than insured patients.
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