Pawlenty also suggested he’d offer “premium support” — Paul Ryan-style vouchers — to people who aren’t yet enrolled in the program. He suggested, though, that he’d make the Ryan-style plan an option for individuals, not an immediate replacement for the entire program.
So, another Medicare “premium support” proposal on the way (details to be released “soon”, Smith reports). By now readers of this blog know the key questions. They include,
- What types of plans qualify for support? Are there minimum standards? If so, what are they? Do plans have to offer the basic Medicare benefits, for example?
- How are the support levels set? By Congress directly (like current Medicare Advantage, and Rep. Ryan’s plan) or through a bidding process (as in Part D, FEHBP, the ACA exchanges)?
- How do support levels change over time? Are they indexed to inflation, GDP, or the cost of health care (as would occur naturally with competitive bidding)?
- To what extent are support levels means tested?
- Is there risk adjustment?
- What about geographic variations in the cost of care?
- Is there a mandate?
- Are premiums community rated, risk rated, age banded?
UPDATE: Added the 8th question.
