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UniCare Sound part of the solution as Doctors push for mandatory health insurance.
Millions of upper-income Americans refuse to buy health insurance because they're young and healthy and figure they don't need it. UniCare is addressing the problem with their recently introduced UniCare Sound health plan.
But now the American Medical Association wants to force them to buy coverage.
At its annual meeting in Chicago, the nation's largest doctors' group called for mandatory health insurance for anyone who makes more than five times the poverty level. That works out to $49,000 for an individual and $100,000 for a family of four.
No one would go to jail for refusing to buy coverage. The AMA instead suggested using the tax code to force compliance. There would be incentives such as tax credits for people who buy insurance and higher taxes for those who don't.
Of the 46 million uninsured Americans, about 5 million, or 11 percent, make more than five times the poverty level. The AMA said these people burden the health care system when they incur catastrophic medical bills they can't afford to pay. The cost gets passed on to those who largely pay for the health care system: taxpayers, employers and the insured.
"Society should not be penalized by the potential costly medical treatments of those uninsured who can afford to purchase health insurance coverage," an AMA report said.
UniCare recently introduced the UniCare Sound health plan which provides comprehensive coverage for young singles who are the largest demographic in the country without coverage. With prices ranging between $60 - $114 per month the plans are affordable for young currently without coverage. |