Some Democrats Say Healthcare Public Option Is Not Out

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Why should we care if a public option dooms the health insurance industry? Good riddance I say. For my entire adult life I've had to pay into, put up with & fight with health insurance companies for one reason or another. Is it that difficult for people to see that a significant portion of their healthcare dollars are going to administrative costs, shareholder dividends and executive compensation? When I see the red-faced screamers at town hall meetings you have to ask, "Why would you fight to protect your abuser"?
Unfortunately, I don't think a public option would put private health insurers out of business, but it's the very least our congressional representatives can do for us. What needs to be done for true healthcare reform is to pass legislation like H.R. 676 which was crafted and co-written by Dennis Kucinich. It is a well thought out and compassionate bill that thoroughly addresses our needs and covers every man, woman & child; no exceptions. If you’re one of the people who thinks it would be impossible to pay for such coverage, consider that we’re already spending close to 3 trillion dollars a year as a nation in healthcare expenditures. Take away the obscene profits being enjoyed by insurance companies & big pharma and you’ll easily be able to afford universal healthcare without rationing. In fact we’d be able to add services to our coverage that we’ve never enjoyed before including elder care. We’re already spending this amount!
Our biggest hurdle in this whole issue is to convince our elected representatives that they actually work for us and are in office to address our needs. H.R. 676 is revolutionary in scope and requires that our congressmen and senators have the intestinal fortitude necessary to pass it. We must remind them that corporate political contributions, in spirit & by law, do not set up a quid pro quo situation. Their job is to thank the generous corporations for their contributions and then set about to doing the business of their constituents. Holding our collective breath for all of that would likely land us in an emergency ward.

Dan of MN 12:43PM October 16, 2009

I agree with Ravi Kumar of FL the notion that the public option is some kind of liberal conspiracy to trick Americans into a single payer system - is ridiculous. The public option is an honest attempt to inject some freindly competition to help lower cost for all Americans. The public option may not even capture more than 10% market share.
Don't believe me? Here is proof: http://www.wikio.com/video/1550032

NorthMan of TX 11:14PM October 08, 2009

David has made some good comments but his explanation of how the public option will turn into a government monopoly asks for too big a leap of faith. There is absolutely no evidence to prove that a government plan and a private plan cannot exist side by side. anybody who thinks that the public option will mean the end of civilization as we know it should immediately do the following:
1) Stop using US Postal Service from now on and only use UPS and Fedex
2) If you have kids in Public schools, get them out and admit them in Private ones.
3) If you went to public school, offer to pay back the federal government the cost of your education.
4) Stop listening to Public Radio
5) Stop using public libraries since they are putting all the bookstores out of business.
6) Stop using public transportation since its putting the car dealerships out of business.
But, none of these businesses are suffering. Private enterprise always survives by adding something more than just the plain old basic. People would like to have added health care options since everyone's needs are different. But the bare minimum basic coverage needs to be same for everyone. The public option will ensure that the cost of basic, necessary health care is always under control.
Imagine an unlikely scenario that the gas companies collude and decide to raise your gas prices 300% - similar to what happened two years ago. There will be an outrage and all that - but people will not miss work because of it. They will simply switch to public transportation. Of course it is not as comfortable as your car, but it is clean, air-conditioned, on time and most importantly - cheap. It is getting the job done. At that time, you would be thanking that you had that to fall back on.
Why is that so hard to understand?

Ravi Kumar of FL 3:39PM October 08, 2009

To: Rey Jacobs of TX
Oh my God the sky will fall - if American citizens have a public option! What a crazy exaggerate that the government will takeover health care insurance and effectively outlaw private health care insurance companies. Oh how scary - why are you saying that, why do want to scare people or even think that it would scare someone?
I don't know if you are a CEO or work for an health care insurance company but if you are an ordinary American - why would you even want to defend private health care insurance companies and go against your best interests? These private health care insurance companies make billions and pay their CEOs millions and in some case billions that could go toward your health care. I am completely baffled, enlightened me so I can understand why I should care and why you do care if these insurance companies don't make as much money as they have been.

Rese Cohen of CA 11:31PM October 07, 2009

There's no such thing as a 'public option.' Its not an option. Whether they put this fictitious 'public option' in the bill or not, the bill will effectively outlaw private insurance and be a government takeover of the insurance business.

rey jacobs of TX 8:15PM October 07, 2009

With a public option thrown into the mix of insurers, there's hope for some cost reduction for those who are insured, there's hope for real competitive pricing in pharmaceuticals, there's hope no one will be dumped for pre-existing conditions, there's hope no one will be without insurance when jobs are lost or changed, and there's surely hope the spiral of cost increases in health care will come to an end.
I'm amazed at how many people think a public option will lead to government control when health insurers now, all of them private, control with a relentless eye to the bottom line and their high overhead costs. Health care insurance, in private hands, is proven disaster. What it needs is a kick in the butt, a reality check, and an acknowledgement that real competitiveness can never exist where collusion is rampant.
Why are so many fooled to believe otherwise? Comfort in their present insurance plans, plans every day in jeopardy because employers cannot continue to afford them. Sources of information who tout, erroneously, that America's health care system is the best in the world. Their failure to do REAL research.
Public Option, yes. Government takeover, no.

Ron W. Smith of UT 7:06PM October 07, 2009

there is only the same old Health industry no care just insurance ripping off the people. I will never go to A doctor that is serving this Ferengi style health industry voluntarily.
All medically accepted drugs should not be commercialized raising there cost, If the doctor does not have the ability to research these drugs then they should not be doctors. All drugs should be interred into a data base that can be cross referenced to determine the correct drug for each patient If a drug is even needed. Pharmaceutical salesmen should be banned from hospitals and clinics. The aforementioned database should be the only sales tool required to sell drugs and doctors should accept responsibility for there choice of drugs making our lives that much safer. This database can be made available to the public to offer another method for the drug lords to sell there drugs just to be fair to the pharmaceutical companies.
Big business slows technology and needs to control the people small business can only control people if the have good quality products. Lets run greed out of town and start enjoying life without the pressures of big business.
Don D. Brock

Don D. Brock of AZ 1:49PM October 07, 2009

YES YES YES YES so now you know how i feel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael Lener of FL 3:15AM October 07, 2009

To Jenny Amsbary of WV -
My thought's are if we ordinary citizens can't have a public option neither should those that we elect to office. Do you think it's OK for those in the Congress and the Senate to have a public option and that American citizens should not have it?
I really want to understand why you believe that having a public option for all Americans is a government take over of every aspect of American life? That makes no sense. After all we already have Medicare, Medicaid and the V.A. all government run - yet these programs are overwhelming supported by Americans. Yes, there are problems with these government programs but there are problems with private health care.
And why are you only pinpointing democratic officials to work against if the public option passes? There are many democrats in office who are not for the public option and there are many republicans - maybe not in the senate or the congress right now but who have been there in the past and others who are in other public offices who support the public option! Kind of confusing but then I always find it confusing when the ordinary citizenry is against something that's in their best interest.
Why would you want to support for profit health insurance companies? The CEOs of these companies make millions in some cases billions of dollars in pay and bonuses off the backs of hard working everyday American citizens by charging outrageous premiums - then when you become ill the health insurance companies protect their profits by denying the care you need – they are indeed the death panels we’ve been hearing about. Is it possible you or your husband is a CEO at a health insurance company? Maybe you’re just some immoral schlubs who work at a health insurance company and are afraid of losing your job? If so, my advice is to revaluate what you are doing, there is a better choice out there.
Public Option, Now!

Rese Cohen of CA 1:51AM October 07, 2009

Democrats have failed with health reform. They missed the boat
completely. They didn't go after the root of the ever-increasing costs. The insurance companies don't create the costs, they're just passing them along. The entire medical industry: doctors, hospitals, drug companies, medical equipment, etc., failed to control their costs. The costs are not transparent, so they keep rising, and no one questions it.

paul of OH 11:43PM October 06, 2009