Minimum health insurance coverage

Congress should set rules for different standards of health care. The rules allow companies to advertise their policies as substandard, standard, bronze, gold, silver and platinum.

No denial for pre-existing conditions
''SEC. 2705 [42 U.S.C. 300gg–4]. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS AND BENE- FICIARIES BASED ON HEALTH STATUS.''

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage may not establish rules for eligibility (including continued eligibility) of any individual to enroll under the terms of the plan or coverage based on any of the following health status-related factors in relation to the individual or a dependent of the individual:

‘‘(1) Health status. ‘‘(2) Medical condition (including both physical and mental illnesses). ‘‘(3) Claims experience. ‘‘(4) Receipt of health care. ‘‘(5) Medical history. ‘‘(6) Genetic information. ‘‘(7) Evidence of insurability (including conditions arising out of acts of domestic violence). ‘‘(8) Disability. ‘‘(9) Any other health status-related factor determined appropriate by the Secretary.

No exclusions for children
Children will be covered the same as adults, regardless of health condition.

Free preventative care
Preventative care lowers health costs both for the individual and the insurance pool.

No caps on coverage
Coverage will not be capped for annual or lifetime benefits.

"Prior to reform, an estimated 59% of those with employer-provided health insurance had a lifetime limit on their policies, and 89% of those with individual health insurance had a lifetime limit. The number of individuals who had a policy with a lifetime limit and who do not now have a limit -- 105 million Americans..... Not all or most or even many of these 105 million would ever rack up enough medical costs to come close to the prior caps. Yet any single one of these 105 million could have with an unlucky roll of the genetic dice. But enough of them would have hit the lifetime limit to create immeasurable pain and distress in the lives of those families."

Can't be dropped for being sick
Coverage will not be denied if a member becomes ill later, as long as the condition is part of the insurance plan. Insurance plans will not be forced to provide coverage for illnesses outside the plan.

Children may be insured through their parents
"Twenty-eight percent of Americans between the ages of 26 and 34 had no health insurance in 2010, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation..... At the age of 26, you're too old to qualify as a dependent on your parents' health insurance plan, despite being unemployed, in school, or working for a company that does not provide health insurance..... Young people also have the hardest time getting access to affordable care when they're entering the job market: many twenty-somethings are employed by small businesses, or have part-time, entry-level and freelance jobs that do not offer health care, according to the Department of Labor."

No penalties for not having insurance
There should be no penalty for not carrying insurance. However, you will be required to pay the full costs of any medical or emergency service you use.

Senior care
Seniors will be covered under a Senior Care plan.

Premium Coverage
Provides a higher level of coverage than a standard plan. Congress can create standards for Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum level coverage.

Platinum
Platinum coverage covers all conditions.

Substandard Coverage
Companies may provide substandard coverage. However, they must clearly notify all customers that the service it provides is substandard.

Catastrophic Coverage
Provides insurance against cancer and other major illnesses. It is supplemental to the above insurance plans.