Comments on Medical IDs Return Healthcare responsibility and decisions to Doctors and Patients. The law mandating unique medical ID's for everyone is a single example. If we as patients and doctors are to regain control of our healthcare decisions and information and privacy, then we must also assume responsibility for those same decisions.
Responsibility can only come from direct control of funding.
Of all the insurance programs designed to address these issues, the Medical Savings Account is by far the most elegant and realistic to come along. It involves a tax-sheltered savings account to which an indemnity major medical plan is attached. The account bears interest, and until the owner turns 65, can only be used for payment of qualified medical expenses. But for the majority of participants, costs would be dramatically lower. Any accrued savings can be withdrawn as a retirement plan-type of account after age 65.