From today's NY Times Business Section:

For these economically uncertain times, the UnitedHealth Group has a “first of its kind” product: the right to buy an individual health policy at some point in the future even if you become sick.

Called UnitedHealth Continuity, the product is not actual medical insurance, but is aimed at people who may have insurance now but are worried they may lose it — and may not be able to obtain replacement insurance on their own. They may expect to retire early, for example, before they qualify for Medicare. Or they are worried about the possibility of losing their job and their health coverage.

People who are already sick will generally not be eligible for the new product. Those who do pass a medical review, will pay 20 percent each month of the current premium on an individual policy to reserve the right to be insured under the plan at some point in the future.

In other words, if you pay them 20% of their regular premium they will promise to refrain from their usual predatory practices should you be sick and need insurance in the future.

Wonks Anonymous would like to know three things about this product:

• Does it guarantee access to insurance at a particular rate or does it just guarantee that you can get a policy at a rate to be determined by the company?
• Can this policy be revoked or rewritten if you get sick - like ordinary health insurance?
• Can someone who holds a UnitedHealth individual policy buy this policy as a rider? If they can, will it lock in their current rate as long as they pay premiums?

But maybe this is all too complex. Maybe we just need universal coverage at one rate, determined by average costs for the whole community.