Much has been said about how best to reform the U.S. health care system. Yet, for all the opinions and proposals, I haven't seen one that truly makes sense.

There are pieces of each proposal that are great ideas, but we have to take those pieces and put them together to formulate a plan that makes sense. Most politicians don't fully understand the health care system and the staggering costs that employers face year after year as they cover their employees.

Yet most employees, and most Americans overall, are happy with their health care - they just want it to cost less. It's possible to control costs while keeping the employer based health insurance model in place by following my six steps to health care reform - six steps that don't total anywhere near the $1 trillion pricetag of current proposals.

1. Impose an individual mandate.

Require all individuals to carry health care coverage, and note on their tax returns proof of coverage for themselves and dependents. Those without coverage should be assessed a fine no less than $4,000 a year - simple as that.

Some will say this is harsh and that the poor will not be able to afford it. To that I say: States require drivers to maintain car insurance to drive; why not require health insurance to live? By controlling costs and requiring employers to provide health benefits, coverage will be more affordable for everyone - including the poor. Medicare and Medicaid still will be available for seniors and poor families.

2. Impose an employer mandate.

All employers with 25 or more employees must provide health insurance to workers who work more than 30 hours per week. Benefits must be available on date of hire, and employers should be required to contribute no less than 50% of the cost of coverage for their employees and employees' children. Employee spouses and domestic partners coverage should be offered without the contribution requirement, as many spouses or domestic partners will have access to coverage through their own employer.

Employers that fail to comply with this mandate should be fined no less than $12,000 per employee per year.

Again, some will say this is harsh and will hurt business. However, other countries have employer mandates, and without significant fines employers won't follow through. One congressional proposal imposes an employer mandate, but places the fine at $750 per employee per year. That is way too low and would encourage employers to drop health care coverage and simply pay the fine.

Although some argue some employers - particularly those with high-risk populations - cannot afford to cover all employees, I believe that a mandate spreads risk around more people in the system, costs will be lower for everyone, including employers.

3. Reform the group insurance marketplace.

Some components of this step already are among current proposals, including making benefits tax-free for employees and prohibiting carriers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions.

In addition, though, state mandates need to be streamlined. Currently, each state has different mandates, with some adding as much as 5% to the cost of health insurance. Streamlining mandates and preventing states from passing individual mandates can help keep costs in check.

Further, insurance companies should be prohibited from passing along more than a 15% increase to an employer group during any given year, regardless of claims. For pooled employer groups, that increase cap should be 10% for each employer in the pool.

Insurance companies should be required to offer a plan equal to the minimum coverage option for individuals to employer groups at a maximum cost similar to the maximum individual costs.

All plans, fully insured and self-insured, should be prohibited from offering lifetime maximums on benefits.

4. Reform the individual insurance marketplace.

Establish a plan with minimum benefits and a maximum price point that insurance carriers can set for this plan. Just as car insurance has a minimum coverage option, so should health insurance.

Potential features of the minimum coverage option might include in-network coverage only, a deductible of $2,000 single and $4,000 family, and 80% coinsurance after the deductible.

The deductible and coinsurance do not apply to primary care and specialist office visits, which are covered at a $30 copay to the primary care and $50 copay to the specialist. They also do not apply to lab work, also a $50 copay.

Prescription coverage is included at 30% of cost for generic drugs, 40% for brand formulary-list drugs and 60% for brand nonformulary drugs. The maximum price point for this plan that insurance companies can charge should be equal to $250 for single coverage, $500 for employee/spouse coverage, $400 for parent/child(ren) coverage, and $750 for family coverage.

Richer plans can be available at higher rates, but all insurance carriers, regardless of state, must offer the minimum coverage/maximum price plan to individuals. Maximum price adjusts each year for inflation.

Insurance carriers can no longer exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage. Insurance carriers can not offer a lifetime maximum on benefits.

Rates may be defined based upon age and gender, but not on health condition. Rates charged can not be more than the maximum price points set for the minimum coverage plan. Richer plans are available to be purchased at higher prices.

Premiums paid for an individual plan should be deductible on tax returns, making individuals able to achieve the same tax benefits as those who receive coverage through employer plans.

5. Reform health care providers.

We need to stop having providers practice "defensive medicine."

For that to truly happen, we need reform on medical malpractice. Standards need to be stricter on providers, and frivolous lawsuits need to be prohibited.

This should be tackled in separate legislation, however this bill should require that this issue be discussed and decided on separately, with a deadline in place for doing so.

Electronic medical records are a must. Since there is a large cost involved in this as well, how to go about doing this and how to pay for it should be discussed and decided on in separate legislation. Again, a deadline should be in place as to when this separate legislation will be completed.

6. Make America healthy.

Each American needs to take responsibility for their own health and offered incentives to do so.

I propose that if individuals can prove they have gone to the doctor for a physical exam and routine blood tests, they'll receive a $300 tax credit. Individuals that can prove they went to a gym or exercise class at least 150 times during the year will receive a second $300 tax credit.

There they are: six steps to health care reform that can be accomplished without enormous costs and without a government plan option. Washington, do you hear me?