|
Financial Budget
Number of Americans
needing healthcare: 300 million
Total costs of healthcare in U.S. in 2006: about
$2.154 trillion
Reduction
of costs of healthcare = 66.7 percent (see text)
Costs for essential care in 2006: $2.154 trillion
times .667= $1.437 trillion
Total Gross Earnings (TGE) (all earnings under
social security + all income from social security that is taxable + all
other earnings) of all who have an income in the United States:
$10,898.3 trillion—this figure would be used to determine how much a
health insurance tax rate would need to be for all people with an
income. (data from http://www.bea.gov/bea/newsrel/pinewsrelease.htm
1)
Eliminate Medicare A payment of 2.9% tax (204.7 billion $)
2) Eliminate Medicare B payment from premiums and
75% of 173.4 billion $ from general revenues—which = 130.05 billion $
3) Eliminate Medicare D which = 61.4 billion $
Total in 2006—Eliminate total of $ 439.5 billion
(20.4% of nation health expenditures)
4) $ 439.5 billion is already being paid. So
subtract this from $1.437 trillion proposed above. The net amount
becomes $ 997.5 billion in new health security tax.
Formula: TGE X 9 percent = $
collected for universal healthcare tax = HCTx
$10898.3 X .09 = $ 980.85 billion (This is a 9 %
tax on income—currently a family insurance policy costs 18 % of median
family income)
There are
no copays so in the 65 years and older population the individual will no
longer have to pay 40.56 % of costs themselves. These costs are
represented by out-of-pocket and private insurance expenses.
Rebates of
HCTx to individual for the following conditions:**
A) Normal body weight (BMI): full rebate unless D,
E, or F apply
B) Obesity
(BMI =/>30): no rebate
C)
Overweight (BMI >25<30): rebate of 30 % unless D, E, or F apply
D) Users of tobacco and drugs: no rebate
E) Problem drinkers: no rebate
F) unacceptable risks for accidents etc.: no rebate
**The percent of individuals
with a normal body weight is approximately 33%. This group contains some
people who also fall in groups D, E, and F. This reduces the number
eligible for a rebate. The actual number who remain eligible for a
rebate may be estimated to be 20 to 25 percent.
A fuel tax can generate revenues
to encourage walking instead of riding. Based on current gasoline
consumption a $.05 tax per gallon generates $ 7 billion yearly that must
be earmarked for healthcare use only.
A tax can be added on foods that are not
nutritionally balanced and pose a risk for making people obese. Also add
a tax on foods sold at restaurants and fast food establishments.
HCTx—rebate of HCTx for healthy
living = RCTx
Rebate of
HCTx for individuals with BMI = or < 25 (33% of population)
Rebate of HCTx for nonsmokers (80% of population)
Rebate of HCTx for individuals not abusing alcohol
and/or drugs (?80% of population)
Rebate of HCTx for individuals with non-risky
behavior (? 80% of population)
Total HCTx revenues– Total
RCTx rebate= dollar amount to pay for universal healthcare
|