Critical Review of An Autonomous Model of Health Care: Are Third Parties Really Needed?

The concept of an independent citizen carried health care system is explored. The core is a
cooperative administrative business structure, which functions exclusively for the benefit of the
individual and community health of its members. The participants contribute according to their means
a percentage of their assets to a health care fund and determine in a democratic approach on a one
vote-one member-basis the size of a pretax deduction for the sole purpose of health care coverage.
Representatives of this newly created health care cooperative enter binding agreements with
integrated health care provider organizations, consisting of physicians, nurses, hospitals, laboratories,
drug companies and ancillary personnel. The resulting single payer guarantees standard service
delivery and reimbursement. The overall goal is optimum individual and community health of all
members of the health care cooperative without interference of any third parties. A close partnership
between providers and prospective patients assures an affordable balance between investment in and
value of health services. Employers are freed of their burden to contribute to the health care of their
employees. The remaining roles of government are enforcement of tax collections and basic rules of
conduct and justice. Underlying principles are elucidated for supporting and enhancing optimum
societal reciprocity in human interaction to mutually promoting health and well being as a fundamental
private and community good. The major weaknesses of the current American health care system,
namely inequality of access and unsustainable cost increases, are addressed and potentially
alleviated.