Here's an option to Obamacare

It is obvious to me that the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is unsustainable and will eventually have to be scrapped. When this happens, there will be a short window of opportunity when Republicans and Democrats will want to work together to provide a viable alternative. Both parties want to take care of the poor. Both parties want to protect those with pre-existing conditions. We can't afford to drive our country deeper in debt. The free market will work when people are put in charge of their own health/financial decisions. So here is the beginning of a plan.

Key components:

* The reform must be simple and easy to understand

* Participation in insurance is voluntary

* Insurance companies must accept those with pre-existing conditions

* Any American can shop in any state for insurance

Her There must be tort reform to reduce unwarranted malpractice claims

* Taxpayer-funded subsidies for premiums and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are available only on the Idaho Plan (though other plans are still available)

Idaho Plan:

People in every state will have this option. I call it the Idaho Plan because I love Idaho!

* $4,000 yearly deductible per person (catastrophic insurance)

* Accepts all pre-existing conditions

* Includes free yearly health/wellness check-up

* Includes prescriptions (with a co-pay)

* All enrollees will get $400 (taxpayer funded) toward their HSA. This can accrue from one year to the next.

* Some enrollees (income based) will be eligible for taxpayer funded subsidies of their monthly premiums.

* This is the only plan that includes these last two benefits. Hopefully, these two benefits will make it attractive enough to encourage a huge pool of participants.

If you think a plan like this is worth discussing, please forward this to your family, friends, and people in power. If not, don't bother complaining about it in the newspaper - just let it die. I'm hoping that this (or another positive alternative) will emerge when we have that short window of opportunity.

Mark Luhnow is a Coeur d'Alene resident.