Minnesota House District 54B Republicans

1. Allow tax-deductions for individuals purchasing health insurance premiums. Since 1942, premiums on employer-sponsored plans have been tax-free while health insurance plans purchased by individuals have not enjoyed such benefits. The result: Most people get their health insurance from their employer. The down side it that now if you get laid off, you lose your insurance and become stigmatized with a pre-existing condition. Ending this special treatment will allow individuals to purchase affordable health insurance in a fair market environment. Repealing this 1942 federal law will facilitate portability of coverage, regardless of employment, and will put to rest much of the debate regarding pre-existing conditions.

2. Allow individuals to purchase insurance across state lines by invoking the interstate commerce clause. One study estimated that that adjustment alone could cover 17 million uninsured Americans without costing taxpayers a dime. Currently, Minnesotans have only five insurance companies to choose from. Interestingly, three of the largest, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Medica and HealthPartners, are all non-profit organizations. So much for those evil profit-hoarding private insurance companies.

3. Enact tort reform to end unjust medical malpractice claims. Insurance premiums paid by doctors are passed down to the consumer, making health care more expensive for all.

4. Stop regulating what insurance companies have to cover. Mandating what insurance policies must cover leads to increased prices. Minnesota is one of the worst for mandating all sorts of ridiculous coverage. For example, ten states require residents to purchase coverage for hairpieces. And in 45 states, teetotalers (individuals completely abstinence from alcoholic beverages) must purchase coverage for alcoholism treatment.

5. Repeal the Kefauver Harris "Drug Efficacy Amendment" of 1962, mandating that the FDA test for not just safety but effectiveness. According to the Cato Institute, this drives the cost of some medications up as much as 40%. The invisible hand of free market has brought forth objective, independent, and reliable market solutions such as Consumer Reports, Underwriters Laboratories, and the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. As consumers and doctors demand such a service for food and drug effectiveness, the market will surely respond with such testing organizations. These services will be more efficient and cost effective than a bureaucratic federal regulator.

6. Switch to a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Most Americans are over-insured. A HDHP is a health insurance plan with lower premiums and higher deductibles than a traditional health plan. Insurance plans should be for catastrophic and unforeseen risk, not for everyday regular purchases. You wouldn't purchase gas or tires with your auto insurance. You wouldn't purchase a vacuum or furniture with your homeowners insurance. So why do we insist on purchasing routine tests and medications under our health insurance plan? As a result, Doctors’ offices waste billions just in the billing process. Plus, this third-party payer system masks the costs charged to insurance companies, employers, and customers. Switch to a HDHP and save!

7. Expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for routine expenses. HSAs are tax-advantaged medical savings account available to taxpayers in the United States who are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). HSAs are for out-of-pocket and non-catastrophic expenses. Having a high-deductible health insurance plan in conjunction with consumer-driven HSA are key to low cost health care. It put patients in charge of their health care dollar.

8. Make costs transparent to the consumer. Insist that providers show consumers a detailed breakdown of their services and costs. Regardless of who is footing the bill, sunlight is the cure to wasteful spending.

9. Allow doctors to take their licenses from state to state. Rethink medical licensing laws to encourage greater competition among providers. For routine needs, consider seeing a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor. Patients should seek out the best medical practitioners for their dollar. Using non-partisan reviews such as Angie's List or Consumer Reports will provide shoppers with the information they need to make wise decisions.

10. Congress should change Medicare & Medicaid to a voucher system. Currently 46% of all health care spending in America is paid for by the government. This leads to hundreds of billions in potential waste. Let the customer choose any health plan on the market and if they choose an economical plan, allow them to roll their savings into next years plan. Again, let's put the consumer in control.

11. Legalize choice, competition, and responsibility. Let individuals control their own health care dollars, and allow consumers to choose from a wide variety of health plans and providers, without government interference. Choice, competition, and consumer-driven spending are why the cost of Laser Vision Correction procedures have gone from $10,000 to around $1000 in just 20 years. Most health care spending is non-catastrophic. Allow consumers to shop around get the best service for their dollar.

12. Encourage your federal legislators to reject single-payer, public-option, and "Medicare for All" proposals (H.R. 3200 and H.R. 676). Instead, ask them to pass The Patients' Choice Act (S. 1099 and H.R. 2520). Engage your Representative Betty McCollum at 651-224-9191, Senator Amy Klobuchar at 612-727-5220, and Senator Al Franken at 651-221-1016. Don't wait another moment. Call them today.