The Public Option (Humor)
The Public Option (REM Edition)
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September 9, 2009
Video Wake Up: Public Option Edition
[In case you haven't been paying attention, the final health care reform bill will undoubtedly contain an individual mandate. This means that if you don't currently have health insurance, you'll have to buy some (or pay a big fine). Without a public option, you'll be forced to buy insurance from the same health insurance companies that you can't afford to pay now. You'll naturally have to purchase the cheapest plan which means you'll have shitty coverage with high deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. You'll therefore end up still paying for everything out-of-pocket, but with the added benefit of paying for insurance on top of that (which offers no real coverage). SWEET! As for a "trigger" -- hell, baby, you don't offer a trigger to someone who's already pistol whipping you now.]
The Public Option (Simple Explanation)
The Public Option (Humor)
The Public Option (REM Edition)
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The Public Option (Humor)
The Public Option (REM Edition)
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I have to say even after Robert Reich's helpful explanation, I am still not sure who would have access to the public option, whether it would be only people (and small businesses) who don't have health insurance now, or also people who buy their own health insurance now, or also companies that contract with health insurance companies now. Of course, Congress hasn't voted yet on what to send to the President, so it probably doesn't matter what I don't know. In any event, I am a supporter of a single payer system, so I wouldn't necessarily mind if the public option was a backdoor to crowding out the private insurance companies out of the market (you sly fox you, Obama). And in any event, I don't expect much to change for me personally if the President gets everything he wants or only part or none of what he wants. I just don't know what to think about how effective the public option would be in covering the uninsured or bringing prices down for health care costs or health insurance premiums.
ReplyDeleteEd,
ReplyDeleteSince there are various versions flying around still, no one knows too m,any details, but from my understanding the flip side to that bit about if you're already insured you can keep your insurance may be that if your employer already covers you, you may not have a choice to switch to a public option (if there will be one). Or, perhaps you will be heavily fined if you do switch.
I too prefer single payer but there's nothing sly about giving that up from the start. And, there's nothing sly about not countering cries of supposed shuting out Republicans when you gave up the best plan for the people without a fight (single payer).
Yeah, no idea about how the public option would work, but I'm not that worried about it.
ReplyDeleteThe sly fox part I mentioned is about the assertion by opponents of health insurance reform that the public option will be set cheaper than private insurance, so companies and individuals will flock to it (if they are permitted) and put the private insurance companies out of business. Some opponents of health insurance reform mention this possibility and then use it as proof that Obama wants to socialize medicine. As if the status quo is somehow better (well, it is certainly good for members of Congress).