Reply #13: This House Bill - "public option" only for uninsured

[autorank]

13 SEC. 202. EXCHANGE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND EMPLOY
14ERS.
15 (a) ACCESS TO COVERAGE.—In accordance with this
16 section, all individuals are eligible to obtain coverage
17 through enrollment in an Exchange-participating health
18 benefits plan offered through the Health Insurance Ex19
change unless such individuals are enrolled in another
20 qualified health benefits plan or other acceptable coverage.

That's from Hoyers website link to H.R. 3200
America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, Bill Text
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/aahca.pdf

This language on the Exchange, which is where the public option is located, looks consistent
with Obama's major speech - the health care exchange and, therefore, the public option would
be available to only "those without insurance."

"But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit
public option available in the insurance exchange. Let me be clear – it would only be an option for
those who don't have insurance." Pres. Obama, Sept. 9

So if you do have insurance, there's no access to the exchange. You benefit from those provisions
that apply to the carrier who insures you, but you DO NOT have access to the public option. By the
specific language of the speech and this language, the only people with the public option are the 40
or so million uninsured.

The rest of us are stuck with crappy insurance plans.

The public option was a substitute for a real single payer plan. Even in the House bill, it's
not an option for all of us, just those without insurance.