Who has a better idea for getting health insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions?

The problem is that, without the mandate, insurance companies won't cover people with pre-existing conditions. Otherwise, people will just wait until they get sick to buy insurance. So you have to create a system where everyone is insured -- a mandate. OK, if you don't like the mandate, how would you get insurance companies to provide affordable insurance to people with pre-existing conditions without a requirement for everyone to have insurance Your solution has to cover the situation where a person gets laid off, wants to start their own business, and needs to buy affordable individual coverage (not group coverage) for themselves and their family. You have 30 minutes. Begin....now. "Affordable" Median income in the US is about $45,000. Lenny -- thoughtful answer. I see challenges in drawing the line around the condition and other conditions, but it's a start. Primo -- you're not answering the question I asked. I'm not debating the constitutionality (although 2 of the 3 rulings favor the mandate), I'm asking for an alternative that will address the issue of coverage for pre-existing conditions. Jay -- I don't see how this will work. No insurance company is going to accept paying $100,000 in hospital bills in exchange for $10,000 in back premiums. "gws35" -- HIPAA Title I doesn't address my scenario.