Somebody should give credit to Congressional Republicans for creating one of the greatest economic opportunities of all time. As many on the Left decry the repeal of the Affordable Care Act as “taking away health care from millions”, it should be noted that the bill does not ban health insurance providers from offering coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Nor does it require lifetime benefit caps, charging more for older customers or having higher rates for women than men.
So that means that anyone can offer insurance policies with any of those benefits–without penalty from the Government. And therein lies the incredible opportunity. What if I went on Shark Tank and told the investors that I had a potential customer base of 23-million people (the number quoted as those who could lose their current health insurance if the Senate approves the bill in its current form)? Any of them would be jumping at the opportunity to do business with me. And that is what those who are angry, and upset and threatening to “overthrow” the government should be doing–beating the system at its own game.
There is nothing preventing those taking to the streets and chanting and crying endlessly on social media from launching their own health insurance companies to offer the very same benefits provided under the Affordable Care Act. Sell policies that people can buy even after they get very sick. Don’t exclude those with pre-existing conditions. Cover everything: abortions, gender conversions, birth control, even post traumatic stress disorder caused by the election of Donald Trump as President. Forget actuarial tables and charge everyone the same premiums–or don’t charge them if you think that is “too much”.
Before you think it’s “too expensive” to launch a new health insurance provider, take a look at the people leading the protests of the ACA repeal: Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg–many of the richest and most business-savvy people in the world. Let them put their money where their mouths are and prove that their insurance system can work. Heck, you can even call it “ObamaCare” and hire the former President to be your CEO. He’s not doing much now–and he can be in really hip commercials guaranteed to get people to buy.
And if the privatized ObamaCare can’t control costs, they can launch their own health care system as well. Run hospitals that charge only “fair” prices. Get physicians like Dr Sanjay Gupta, and Dr Mahmet Oz and Dr Mark Golston and even Dr Phil to provide services at rates that anyone can afford since they are so concerned about our health care. If Big Pharma won’t provide medicines at low enough prices, get all of those angry researchers, professors and Bill Nye “The Science Guy” to create effective low-cost medicines that can be all but given away.
The best part of this business plan? It won’t require a single government mandate to “succeed”. The low rates, the comprehensive coverage and the incredible quality of the care will bring everyone flocking to buy–and the next thing you know–everyone will be enrolled on their own. It would be the ultimate American success story: Socialists beating Capitalism at its own game.
