Blue Dog Dem Admits: I Oppose Public Health Option Because Of Insurance Firms In My State

[babylonsister]

Sam Stein

Blue Dog Boren Defends Private Insurers Against Public Plan

First Posted: 07-29-09 11:18 AM | Updated: 07-29-09 12:55 PM


One of most recalcitrant Democrats in the health care debate said on Wednesday that his skepticism about a public health insurance option was driven by concern for the health of private insurers.

Appearing on MSNBC, Blue Dog Democrat Dan Boren of Oklahoma said that he generally agreed that a government-run insurance program could effectively lower costs for consumers.

"The problem," he argued, "is in a state like Oklahoma, where we have a lot of private insurers, you have a public option come in and it drives everything else out and the only thing left is the public option and then you have rationed care."

Defending the private insurers is a tricky proposition for any Democrat, even a Blue Dog. For Boren, it is complicated by two other factors. The Oklahoman is a self-described fiscal conservative who has repeatedly raised concerns about health care costs. But, perhaps more significantly, a recent Congressional Budget Office report suggests that the congressman is wrong to suggest that private insurers would driven from the market if forced to compete with a public plan.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/29/blue-dog-boren...

[rockymountaindem]

1. Not only that, but he's talking more BS about what the public option does

It will not lead to "rationed care", for starters.

[The Magistrate]

2. What A Wretch This Buffoon Is, Ma'am

Care is already rationed, by cost and insurance company profits. The ignorance of these people is astounding.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

3. And you can contact that fuck here ---

Dan Boren
216 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
[phone]
[phone] fax
http://www.house.gov/boren/emailsignup.shtml

Jackass.

[high density]

4. how is our current care not "rationed?"

What a putz.

[harun]

5. Rationed care? What a load of crap.

[Cleita]

6. We now have the answer for why a public option competing with private

insurance won't work. They know they will be put out of business. It seems like the doctors at PNHP were right. A national health care plan for everyone has to exclude private insurance. Private insurance has a place selling coverage for bells and whistles like concierge type hospital suites, private nurses, extended stays in nursing facilities or fancy rehab facilities, but it has no business delivering basic health care to the public. Even non-profit cooperatives will have to cherry pick whom they cover or go out of business because one very expensive special needs patient will break the bank so the people most needing health care will be turned away and will not be covered. They can't spread the risk like a national plan can. I'm afraid anything less than single payer for basic care for everyone is only a Magic Show with sleight of hand and smoke and mirrors. I'm very disappointed that our government is being run by insurance and pharmaceutical companies who don't give a damn about people dying without health care and drugs.

[guitar man]

7. Then resign, Boren

or switch parties you SOB. As an Oklahoman I'm am constantly embarrased by the fucks we send to DC

[BR_Parkway]

8. They need to report - financed by Dr's - $195,010, insurance - $121,285

lobbyists - $90,035

The only question now is if the whore charges by the hour, legislative session or per bill sponsorship - we certainly can see who gets listened to and who gets ignored.

We will never get meaningful change or representation until we get the big money out of politics