Chris Dodd on Health Care

Dodd proposes universal, affordable health care coverage for all Americans within four years through his "Universal HealthMart" plan. The "HealthMart" marketplace would establish benefit plans similar to the Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan. Individuals and businesses would contribute to it based on their ability to pay. The coverage would be portable, following the individual rather than changing from job to job. The plan emphasizes technology and preventive care, offering incentives to people who improve their health. Although Dodd would allow employees and employers to keep their current health coverage, he believes that participation in Universal HealthMart would grow because it would ultimately lower costs.

Health Insurance: Private/Government

• Ensure that all Americans within four years will have affordable health care coverage that is portable through the "Universal HealthMart" plan. In two years, all children and young adults under 30 years old, as well as adults 55-64 years old, would be insured. In the next two years, all adults 30-54 would have coverage.
• Ensure the plan offers benefits on par with the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan, which operates in every county nationwide.
• Share responsibilities for coverage by employers, users, the government, and insurance companies.
• Use ability to pay as the criteria for contributions to the plans by individuals and businesses. If they are unable to pay, use government funds to subsidize premiums.
• Offer incentives for preventive care, chronic disease management, and increased use of technology.
• Provide options in health care plan offerings.
• Allow individuals and employers to continue using existing insurance plans, if desired. Otherwise, enrollment in the Universal HealthMart Plan will be automatic.

Medical Costs

• Use the bargaining power created by his plan to lower costs.
• Employers who participate in the plan will no longer have administrative costs.
• Reduce overall costs by rewarding people who make healthy choices, such as losing weight.

Health Savings Accounts

• Does not support health savings accounts because he says they don't help the uninsured and they create disincentives to pay for preventive or primary care.