ABSTRACT
This chapter recommends a significant federal and state role in the preservation and expansion of certain safety nets. There are caveats to universal catastrophic coverage. One is that the conditions and dollar thresholds covered by universal catastrophic coverage (UCC) would have to be strictly defined by law, and adhered to. The situation is different for individuals with pre-existing conditions who are seeking coverage but are not switching insurance from an old group plan or a creditable health plan. The basic objective of an invisible risk sharing program would be to ensure that all individuals—regardless of medical status—have guaranteed access to insurance coverage. The idea of an invisible reinsurance program has been floating around for decades, and was co-opted (albeit in a compromised form) by Obamacare. At the same time, there are able-bodied adults who need temporary assistance but—with the right help and incentives—can be transitioned to other coverage options.
