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CitizenCare CORE: A Healthy Foundation for Every American

Picture of Mark Scheffler Mark Scheffler : Updated on March 15, 2026

Economy Society #TinyTax Healthcare Affordability

CitizenCare CORE: A Healthy Foundation for Every American

America has the most advanced medical technology in the world and at the same time we also have the most expensive healthcare system. Too many families delay care because of cost, and too many small businesses struggle to afford insurance for their employees.

The problem isn’t that America lacks doctors, hospitals, or innovation.

The problem is that we wait until people are sick before we provide care.

That approach is both cruel and incredibly expensive.

That’s why I’m proposing CitizenCare CORE — a universal foundation of preventive healthcare that ensures every American has access to essential care from birth to age 65. CitizenCare CORE focuses on keeping people healthy, not just treating illness.

And by doing that, it will lower healthcare costs for families, businesses, and taxpayers.

The Problem: America Pays for Illness Instead of Health

Today’s healthcare system is built around a simple but costly reality:

People often avoid care because they cannot afford it.

That means conditions that could have been caught early—diabetes, heart disease, cancer, mental health challenges—often become serious and expensive medical crises.

The results are predictable:

• Higher insurance premiums
• Higher emergency room use
• Higher hospital costs
• Lower productivity for businesses

In other words: Preventable illness is one of the largest hidden costs in the American economy.

CitizenCare CORE flips the system around.

Instead of paying primarily for late-stage illness, we guarantee access to preventive care for everyone.

What CitizenCare CORE Covers

CitizenCare CORE guarantees access to essential preventive care services that keep Americans healthy and catch problems early.

These include:

The goal is simple:

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

What CitizenCare CORE Does NOT Do

CitizenCare CORE does not replace the private healthcare system.

Americans would still have private insurance for:

Specialist care
Hospitalizations
Surgery
Expanded treatment coverage
Concierge or premium services

CitizenCare CORE provides the universal foundation of health, while private insurance continues to offer expanded coverage options.

Think of it as the healthcare equivalent of public education — a strong baseline available to everyone.

The Economic Impact: Lower Premiums for Families

One of the biggest benefits of CitizenCare CORE is that it removes the most common and predictable healthcare costs from private insurance pools.

Today, insurance plans must cover routine care like:

• Physicals
• Vaccines
• Preventive screenings
• Basic diagnostics

These predictable costs drive premiums higher.

With CitizenCare CORE handling preventive care, private insurance shifts toward catastrophic and specialized coverage, which dramatically lowers costs.

Estimated Annual Family Savings

• $1,200 – $2,000 per year in lower premiums
• Lower out-of-pocket preventive care costs

Lower Costs for Small Businesses

Small businesses face some of the highest insurance premiums in America, and many small employers simply cannot afford to provide coverage.

CitizenCare CORE dramatically lowers that burden.

Annual Employer Savings:

• $14,250 per year in lower premiums could go toward:

Hiring new workers
Raising wages
Expanding the business
Investing in equipment

For many small businesses, this would be the difference between offering healthcare or not offering it at all.

The Broader Economic Benefits

Preventive healthcare doesn’t just reduce medical bills—it strengthens the entire economy.

CitizenCare CORE would produce long-term benefits such as:

Funding the Program

CitizenCare CORE is designed to work alongside Mark's broader tax reform proposal:

<span style="font-size: 20px;">Discover the #TinyTax</span>

The #TinyTax replaces much of our complex tax code with a very small automated transaction tax.

Because it captures revenue across the entire economy—including financial trading—it generates substantial funding while cutting taxes for most working families.

A portion of that revenue would fund CitizenCare CORE.

This approach allows us to expand healthcare access while lowering overall economic friction.

Why CitizenCare CORE Appeals Across the Political Spectrum

• Keeps private healthcare intact — CitizenCare CORE provides a baseline of preventive care but does not replace private insurance or eliminate consumer choice.

• Lower insurance premiums for families and businesses — By removing routine preventive costs from insurance pools, premiums fall.

• Supports small businesses — Lower employer healthcare costs make it easier for small companies to hire workers and grow.

• Encourages personal responsibility and preventive health — Annual checkups, screenings, and early treatment help individuals stay healthy and productive.

• Reduces expensive emergency room usage — Preventive care reduces unnecessary ER visits and costly late-stage medical treatment.

• Strengthens the workforce — Healthier workers mean fewer sick days, higher productivity, and a stronger economy.

• Streamlined government role — The program focuses narrowly on preventive care rather than full government management of healthcare.

• Fiscal prudence over time — Early detection and prevention dramatically reduce the long-term costs of chronic disease.

• Universal access to essential healthcare — Every American receives preventive care regardless of income, job, or ZIP code.

• Focus on prevention and public health — Investing in early care improves population health and reduces inequality.

• Mental health coverage — Preventive mental health screenings and early counseling are included.

• Maternal and pediatric care for all families — Ensures every child begins life with access to basic healthcare.

• Equity in healthcare access — Eliminates disparities in preventive care between wealthy and low-income communities.

• Lower financial stress for families — Reduced premiums and fewer out-of-pocket preventive costs.

• Public investment in long-term health outcomes — Prevention lowers rates of chronic disease, improving national wellbeing.

• A step toward universal healthcare coverage — Guarantees foundational care while leaving room for future improvements.

A Healthy Start for Every American

Healthcare should not depend on where you were born, how much money your parents made, or whether your employer offers good insurance.

CitizenCare CORE guarantees that every American receives the basic preventive care necessary to live a healthy life.

It strengthens families.

It lowers business costs.

It prevents illness before it becomes crisis.

And it builds a healthier, more productive country.

Because when Americans are healthy, America prospers.

“I believe every American deserves a healthy start in life and the peace of mind that comes with basic preventive care. CitizenCare CORE is about keeping people healthy, supporting our small businesses, and building a healthcare system that works for everyone.”

- Mark Scheffler