Health Care: Other Options

Universal coverage, private competition and reduced deficits

"Re-read that headline. I am not making this up. A health care bill exists that would accomplish what the headline says.

"Moreover, it has been verified by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in a letter signed in May 2008 by the office's then-Director Peter R. Orszag, who now directs President Obama's Office of Management and Budget.

"It's called the Healthy Americans Act (the HAA). It has been fully vetted for years, written in legislative language, scored by the CBO and has substantial bipartisan support. [Here are] the two basic, simple concepts of the HAA:

"Universal coverage, attracting liberal support — i.e., all Americans are required to purchase health insurance just like auto drivers are required to purchase car insurance.

"More consumer choice and private-market competition, attracting conservative support — permitting everyone to purchase their own insurance policies in open, competitive 'state exchange' marketplaces, each of which must include the Blue Cross/Blue Shield 'Basic' policy, the lowest-tier option available to all federal employees and members of Congress or its functional equivalent."

The rest of the story: Universal coverage, private competition and reduced deficits by Lanny Davis Universal coverage, private competition and reduced deficits (The Hill 2009-10-05)