Reply #86: Hillary's health care plan does too

[creeksneakers2]

An option is offered to get insurance through the government. That would open up a government system that competes with the private system. The government system would have two big advantages, size and subsidies. Eventually, if the government run system can outperform private insurance, we'll end up with single payer. But that happens only if the government system can compete. If private insurance turns out to do a better job, why shouldn't they get the business?

This is the only politically possible way to get to single payer. 156 million Americans get employer provided health insurance. They won't be willing to give that up unless a proven better alternative exists.

There's nothing new about what Edwards is saying. Single payer advocates so far haven't been convinced. Maybe they'll believe Edwards. Edwards is more able to discuss this idea because he's not worried about opponents calling his idea a pathway to socialist health care, which in some ways it is.