Will your enthusiasm for Obama wane if he signs a healtcare bill without Public option

[TheCoxwain]

He isnt making a strong push for it and seems to be going with the flow.... that is worrying me ..


please make me "Chill the F*** out"


On Edit:

I meant Public option ( not single payer) as FrenchieCat pointed... I want a public option included. A health care bill without it is NO CHANGE from the status quo as far as I am concerned.

[FrenchieCat]

1. It's called a Public health care Option, not a Single Payer Option.....

and the fight on health care has just begun.

I'm not worried, I've activated my activism though. I've been busy writing letters for the last couple of days on this very subject.

[Fumesucker]

6. I hope you are including massive checks in those letters..

Those are the ones that get read..

[FrenchieCat]

12. I include a massive check each time I pay my health Insurance premium....

[Lorax7844]

66. absolutely, my enthusiasm would wane

[Fumesucker]

76. From which the insurance company execs..

Make a donation to the politicians, but not on your behalf.

[Justitia]

2. I want a PUBLIC option, at least immediately. I think the public will jump at it.

Which will make it very popular and we go from there.

[Fumesucker]

3. If we keep digging long enough we will find that pony..

It *has* to be under here somewhere.. :shrug:

[Taverner]

4. Well, during the campaign he never supported Single Payer

And although I disagree with him on that, he made a point to clearly state he didn't want Single Payer

Obama has kept every single promise he could - so it wouldn't surprise me if he lets it die

[TheCoxwain]

13. No his plan clearly had an option to buy into a public health care system .. and we could keep ours

as well ...


I remember that clearly .. I even remember krugman analysis that ..this will lead to a single payer option eventual as private options will be uncompetitive.

[John Q. Citizen]

27. "I recall Obama said that "if he were starting from scratch.." he would do it single payer.

And of course there are his much more specific and supportive statements on single payer prior to 1997.

Obama did say repeatedly that he wants good ideas on all issues and that ideology wasn't going to be a factor. That ideas would be judged solely on their merits.

So far, the people who are proposing single payer have been excluded from the debate. It's been very one sided in terms of ideology.

I would hope that Obama would offer some leadership and call for all sides to get a fair and equal hearing in a public setting. We need a real and open debate instead of a managed debate.

[Oregone]

61. During the campaign, he was campaigning (getting elected)

Now that is out of the way, and logistics (senate/house/executive control) make this feasible, why not? Without valid reason (in the interest of the public), there is due cause for outrage.

I don't care about "promises". What about judgment? He campaigned on having good judgment. How does not considering single-payer health care display good judgment? That seems like a contradiction to his campaign.

[DJ13]

5. That may be the tipping point for many current supporters

Coupled with his protection of the banking industry to the detriment of our economy, that would probably push me over the edge.

[Mz Pip]

7. I don't remember Obama

ever campaigning on Single Payer. I don't see it happening, at least for a while. Maybe that will be the next step. But for now I would be happy with affordable healthcare for all that does not disqualify people with pre-existing conditions.

[WI_DEM]

45. He never did. It's only the usual suspects around here trying to rile everybody up

[Oregone]

58. People should be riled up

There isn't much of a logical reason for liberal minded Democrats who control both the legislative and executive branch to deliver a shit plan to the public when they could instead deliver single-payer health care. It isn't about campaign promises. Its about common sense.

[John Q. Citizen]

71. Obama campained on it in IL. He supported single payer for years until he

decided he'd run for President. Even then he said we needed a debate on it.

I'd be happy to get a debate on it. Good ideas have a way of beating out bad ideas.

Is having a public debate the same as "trying to rile everybody up?"


And are you accusing Obama of "trying to rile everybody up" before when he said he supported single payer? I disagree. I don't think Obama is a rabble rouser, and I think your criteria for what a rabble rouser is, is incorrect.

[Oregone]

54. "healthcare for all that does not disqualify people with pre-existing conditions"

LOL. You people seem to miss the devil in the details.

"healthcare for all that does not disqualify people with pre-existing conditions" = "repository for high-risk health care consumers"

If this "public option" is *unfunded* and not negotiating for rock-bottom prices (as Schumer is dictating), and yet, paying out on all their claims of their high-risk patients (those left over after the private companies cherry-pick healthy consumers), the rates would either sky-rocket or the "public option" will go bankrupt instantly (and say bye-bye to more reform).

You get that? For profit health insurance could even be cheaper under the right conditions, simply because they can ensure a low risk customer base. Private insurance companies, who work to reduce risk/shed clients (and subsequently pay out less and less claims), can raise their profits considerably under this plan. Hell, if they only insure healthy 20 to 50 year old adults who never get sick and have no health problems, their premiums could be half as much as a public option saddled with the young/old/sick/weak. Meanwhile, any guesses as to what happens to an unfunded, burdened "public option"? And guess who picks up the tab at the end of the dance when the music stops?

Having a "public option" (an anemic public-owned insurance company with unlevel playing-ground) mingle amongst the health insurance giants is a disaster in the making, and simply not feasible. There is a reason other nations (who have public insurance) have declared this model illegal.

[TheCoxwain]

55. Schummer is getting too cute by a half.

I should be able to freely switch to publicly operated insurance plan.



FUCK the Schemer - Schumer.

[CTyankee]

69. But didn't Obama say he was AGAINST private companies cherry picking

the healthy? Didn't he say they couldn't under his plan? And didn't he also say that people with preexisting conditions should not be priced out of care (I don't recall him saying that you automatically go into the public plan if you do).

What if the public plan competes very strongly for people who simply want to save money? The healthy young would find it very attractive at a time in their careers where they may not make much money. It could become very popular. If so, it would enjoy broader public support and be less vulnerable to budget cuts, sort of the way Medicare is now.

[Oregone]

72. Yeah, lets see when its all done and written you know

(being that Obama isn't even writing it)

But I can tell you, the insurance industry just bought a few seats at the drafting table with their announcement ysterday.

If, legislation creates a level playing field and they simply are cheaper based on their lack of profit-motive, its a good idea. If it is created to be weak and anemic, it will go bankrupt before you blink and eye. I'm not holding my breathe.

Anyway you dice it, it probably will be more expensive than single-payer, period. Why only go half-way?

[CTyankee]

81. I am hoping that Obama's people are smart enough to have figured out just what

you are pointing out. The trick, as I've said in other posts on this thread, is making the public plan attractive enough to get a large, diverse base. It becomes really hard to get rid of/weaken if LOTS of the voters have a vested interests in it (see Medicare).

Single payer is the better way to go, IMO. And it may come to pass, if attrition takes its toll on private insurers and they just don't find the business profitable any more. Or they become "boutique" insurere (e.g. private nurses and private rooms in hospitals, certain sports related medical enhancements or even cosmetic plastic surgery that is not for truly medical reasons). That is what I hope for, but the public must be very vigilant, cuz the buzzards will be back...

[Captain Hilts]

95. He didn't. He supported optional alternatives. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. No. He specifically promised to oppose single-payer during the campaign

[Oregone]

84. "You can pry private insurance from my cold dead hand!"

:)

Specifically promised to oppose? Yes, I know its not politically feasible to run as an advocate of single-payer, but would you interpret that as running as an opposer of single-payer? You sure he just wasn't saying what he was supposed to, in order to get elected? Promised to oppose seems strong, but Ill wait for the quotes.

("promised to oppose", as you said, seems like an active verb, such that, he would literally fight against it. On the other hand, "opposed" is used more like expressing an opinion. Im not sure what you mean he meant here).

[Freddie Stubbs]

92. "His plan: Keep your employer-paid coverage. Keep your own doctor."

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/10/ad_health.html

[Oregone]

97. Nothing about promising to oppose single payer

Yeah, everyone might have their own plan, but that doesn't mean they will automatically oppose an alternative (especially if it is better). I think you are taking liberties saying he "promised to oppose" single-payer.

[Freddie Stubbs]

98. Single payer by definition would eliminate employer-paid coverage

Hence the name "single" payer. There would be no employer-paid, or privately paid, coverage.

[Oregone]

99. So?

He had a plan that wasn't single payer. That is not the equivalent of promising to oppose single payer. That is a great stretch.

[nichomachus]

94. Which is why I don't have the "enthusiasm" the OP mentioned

So it was kind of a difficult question to answer.


I voted for Obama because he wasn't Bush and he wasn't McCain. That was all I ever expected from him. So, I'm not as disappointed as a lot of people are, because he's really not Bush and he's not McCain.

He's a crafty politician from the Chicago/Daley School of Politics. That's how he outmaneuvered the Clinton Machine, which, sad to say, wasn't that hard.

I never believed there would be more than cosmetic change. The corporations still own the government. The radical evangelical Christians still own the military. Obama needs to play to the very communities that are the most homophobic.

He's better than Bush, McCain of Palin -- sadly for him, that's not a very high hurdle to overcome. However, had Obama been perceived as any kind of a threat to corporate America, he would have been politically destroyed a long time ago.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. That's why fighting for issues is more important than fighting for politicians.

[lostnotforgotten]

10. Yes - In My Mind He Has Already Failed By Precluding The Single Payer Option

eom

[dysfunctional press]

11. i won't have any enthusiasm for him UNTIL we have a public option at LEAST.

[eleny]

14. He could be opening the door for the next Perot or Nader

If Obama doesn't allow discussion of a public option I'm sadly sure that populist challengers will emerge. The 46 million Americans who don't have health insurance could be a powerful constituency.

[leftstreet]

80. Neither party would mind that at all. They know the system's gamed

My worry would be that the Repubs might grow a pair and pick up the single payer theme. And it'd be goodbye Democratic majority.

[WeDidIt]

15. Yep

Big time.

[abluelady]

16. If a Public Option is Not Included

I will be very disappointed in him. I can't foresee a better time in our history to get this accomplished.

[Justitia]

18. The OP is talking about a "Single Payer" option, NOT a "Public" option - 2 different things. -eom

[TheCoxwain]

22. My mistake ...I want single payer discussed .. but will accept a bill with a public option

We need a public option at the very least that will lead to single payer over time

[Justitia]

25. exactly. I think once we get that public option, it will be much, much easier from there. -eom

[abluelady]

82. I Should Have Been More Clear

While I want a singel payer, I would be okay if he at least offered a public option. Without one of those choices, my support of him will diminish.

[John Q. Citizen]

17. If Obama doesn't encourage a real and open debate then I will publicly call

him a liar.

I already know that most of the Senate, both Repo and Dem, are owned by the insurance industry. So we aren't going to get a single payer bill out of the Senate this session.

We might get a Public Option out of this Senate, so the Dems can pretend they aren't a wholly owned subsidiary of Private Insurance Inc.

By the way, the Public Option isn't single payer. There isn't a "single payer option."

There is a proposal being floated to form a public pool that would compete in a multi payer system (what we have now) with other private insurance companies.

Please be careful not to spread mis-information. It's important that people be able to understand what the issues are.

[snowdays]

30. yes, be careful. Dr. Dean mixed them up last week. ON purpose?

[John Q. Citizen]

36. I couldn't know his intensions. . In fact i didn't know a mixup occured , until you stated it. The

Public Option could be a very good interim step to achieve single payer health care, or it could be a way to kill off the whole issue for another generation.

But we need an open debate that includes expert proponents of Single Payer, expert proponents of muylti-payer with a public option, of expert proponents of keeping the status quo, of whatever any legit group wants to bring to the debate.

And so far all I see is 'The Silence of the Dems'
s and the 'Howling of the Repos.'

[snowdays]

38. Yes, we need a seat at the table. Democrats should be ashamed

of themselves for purposefully casting them under the bus.

[supernova]

19. No, I think an interim step

is probably necessary for a couple of reasons:

1) It's too big of a change for most people to make to go from a completely privatized laissez-faire environment to a gov't run single payer system.

2) Having to compete with a gov't option will whittle the insurance companies down to size over time. Right now, they are too powerful, but in five or 10 years tying to compete with a Medicare for Everyone type deal, they will be in the same condition as Detroit is now. They've already admitted that they will have a tough time competing with a possible gov't plan. They've already admitted defeat.

3) When 2) comes to pass, it will be very much easier to pass and enact a true Single Payer system.

Personally, I would be only too happy for a Single Payer system right now.

[CTyankee]

57. Is Obama telling them that there WILL be a public option and not to hold out against one?

Or are they truly forced, at this point, to give in on competing with a public option?

I thought the inclusion of a public option was a deal breaker with the insurance companies.

If we are going to get a public option, I feel better. At least it's a start...

[supernova]

63. I haven't seen anything

that says a public option is off the table.

No, it won't be single payer, but if it's the same deal and the same regulations as the federal employees have (a multiplicity of plans that are heavily regulated), then it will serve the same purpose as a public option, i.e. force the insurance companies to spend more dollars on care, and less on stockholder value and CEO compensation.

[CTyankee]

67. My only fear is that private plans will still be so expensive for people with preexisting

conditions that the public plan becomes the plan with the sickest and poorest people. It will then be more expensive to run and taxes will have to be raised to support it. Since it supports sick poor people and the more affluent have their private plans it will be an easy target for cutting funding and it will wither and die.

However, if it is a good plan that people who are not the sickest and poorest find attractive, it may work. I hope Obama's people are working on that now and have a plan (I am sure they do). This thing might just work...

[supernova]

75. Oh, I completely understand

about preexisting conditions.

I've been a cardiac patient since birth. Nothing like lining up to see the heart doc with the rest of the old geezers when you're five years old. :crazy:

Now, I haven't needed any special expensive treatment for a very long time, but I need routine checkups and consults with a specialist, preferably a specialist in congenital heart defects. CHD is now considered a separate sub specialty within cardiology because those of us with this condition have demanded it. They weren't around when I was born, and it gets annoying not to mention alarming, going to the doc and realizing you know more about your condition that the doc you are seeing. :eyes:

So, I completely understand and share your fears about the dangers of ins cos "dumping" all their chronic sickies on the public plan.

[Sebastian Doyle]

20. The "public option" MUST be part of the deal.

Ben Nelson was accurate in his explanation for being a fucking traitorous coward - the greedy insurance companies will not be able to compete with the public option. Eventually the corporations will become irrelevant, and single payer will be what remains.

Under no circumstances can we allow the sort of mandatory corporate plan like the one Mittens had in Massachusetts or like Hillary was campaigning on last year. Because if everyone has forced corporate coverage, they'll say "problem solved" and there will never be any incentive to have REAL reform, and catch up with the rest of the goddamn planet.

[Divine Discontent]

26. I agree with your rage. I pray to God this doesn't go down as it's looking - it's such a farce to

this is the CHANGE we voted for! Bullsh*t! This is NOT the change we wanted. Corporate scum control far too much. And these senators need real challengers who are for the people when it comes to Energy, Health, Education and Food & Drug - sorry, pro-business folks, but those areas of life I feel are monopolized far too often, and the govt is supposed to break the monopolies down or just run it.

I want fair health coverage for all like some others have in other countries. WE CAN DO IT if our senators aren't in the hip pocket of the billionaires... we know that answer of course... but there's some brave ones.

[snowdays]

21. I WILL NOT SETTLE FOR CRUMBS FROM THE WH/CONGRESS. GO FOR THE GOLD-SINGLE PAYER.

[billyoc]

23. Actually, no. His health care was shite during the campaign.

I never expected much from in in that arena.

[Dawgs]

24. Public option YES; Single payer NO.

:hi:

[TheCoxwain]

28. That is a reasonable final state .. but as far as discussions go ..we need to pitch for single payer

and that will ensure that a public option will get included in the final version of the bill

[lamp_shade]

29. NO!!

[Fireweed247]

31. no worries- WE the People will accept nothing less than single payer Not For Profit health care

Obama is not the leader WE ARE! We must pressure him to do what is right until we get what we want.

The insurance companies have nothing to stand on and they know it. Their time is over. There is no logical reason to continue to pay them to shuffle papers around taking huge salaries meanwhile letting people die to maintain their profits.

NO option bullshit either. SINGLE PAYER NOW! AFter these trillion dollar giveaways to the bankers, they have no right to tell us we cannot afford it. We must use their own greed and wasteful spending against them. If they are going to run us into tens of trillions of debt, they damn well better do something for the people.

Obama needs to be pushed to do the right thing. He wants us to pressure him. When the public pressure is so great he will have to give us what we want, and he will be able to say 'hey, it's not my fault, the people demanded it'

'There goes my people. I must follow them, for I am their leader." — Mahatma Gandhi

[Echo In Light]

53. "He wants us to pressure him?"

What's your plan? ...cause unless you're miraculously speaking on behalf of a massive segment of the American populace willing to participate in widespread civil disobedience and strikes, all of the typical, safe, ineffective 'call/write your local rep' efforts will accomplish zero.

See, your representatives don't give a fuck about you or I. That's how the phony democracy works here in America.

[Fireweed247]

56. Capitulation is the problem

I see it on DU already....we'll never get what we want so why bother........

Protests are happening- look at what is going on at these hearings! The Senate committee just exposed themselves as being the uncaring bastards that they are and people are pissed off! I'd like to think this is the beginning of something beautiful.

I know they don't give a fuck about anyone. But they don't like it when we invade their photo Ops, start shouting at them at their town hall meetings, start hounding them everywhere they go....and that is what is beginning to happen, let's roll with it and keep up the pressure instead of letting them have their way with us. Let's make these rat bastards just as miserable and uncomfortable as they have made the majority of Americans.

[Echo In Light]

65. Gotcha. Yes, baby steps, and momentum. I know what you're getting at.

[sad sally]

96. very sad, but very true

I do, however, see a growing distrust of the phony democracy by my 17 year old grandson and many of his friends. Youth (if my old memory serves me right) are usually the crowd that's willing to participate in civil disobedience...although I do fondly remember the q-tips (which I am now) that were willing to stand by us during the Vietnam protests.

Unfortunately, the drug companies and for-profit insurance companies have and will continue to dictate health care in America...

[leftofthedial]

32. I think he'll take whatever compromise the insurance companies are willing to offer

and think they can sell to us as "progress."

Almost nothing will change, except for some sort of federal assistance to the uninsured to make it theoretically possible for them to buy the same shitty (and WAY overpriced) coverage most of the rest of us have.

[TheCoxwain]

35. That is script for disaster .....perfect way to blow all the goodwill away. NT

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

33. Yes. nt

[sandnsea]

34. If we'd start focusing on the public option right now

and quit getting divided over single payer, we might actually get something for a change.

All I care is that everybody can get a truly good plan and that they have a generous subsidy to pay for it.

[John Q. Citizen]

46. Do I get to rake off 10 % first? If not, I can't support that, and neither can Baucus.

S&S, I understand the political and functional utility of a public option.

But it's also an ideological based solution and doesn't really stand up to scrutiny in a reality based system. (not that we are a reality based system, by the way. Oh that we were!) In fact the public option in many ways is the health care equivalent of "don't ask, don't tell."

I will acknowledge that due to the ownership stake in the US Senate that the health insurance companies enjoy, a public option is probably our best shot in terms of legislation.

but politically we should be begging, borrowing, screaming, whispering and demanding a real and open debate of all the competing ideas. I feel like if we had a sustained public debate we would win, even if the Senate behaves as expected and does their masters bidding.

[sandnsea]

49. If Rachel Maddow were the leader of a Liberal Party

Or if a Liberal Party followed the frames she so eloquently creates, and would fight with the dignity MLK fought with - then we would have that debate. The time wasted organizing senate hearing sit-ins should be spent organizing local education campaigns.

[bertman]

37. Yes it will.

[alfredo]

39. Veterans, sign up at your local VA!! I did and I love it.

[Oregone]

40. He will verify my notion that the US will *never* have Universal Healthcare,

and that it (politics) is all a dog and pony show concerned with pacifying the indentured masses and allowing them to slave with smiles on their faces.

[madrchsod]

41. yes..it`s just starting

[Cleita]

42. No, unlike the rest of the cheer leaders, I was always lukewarm about Obama

even though I voted for him. I looked at his policies and realized they were very centrist and very Clinton-like or DLC. I knew there would be no real change in policy in an Obama administration or a Clinton administration. I wasn't fooled by the fabulous speeches. After all, Reagan made great speeches too. I'm hoping that like FDR, he realizes that his corporate whore advisors are wrong and he starts governing towards the left after he makes a few mistakes.

[MNDemNY]

43. If it is a single payer "option" then it aint single payer.

[WI_DEM]

44. When during the campaign did he promise a single payer health care system?

[TheCoxwain]

47. I meant public option .. a policy with a substantial number of subscribers and without a profit

motive ...

[Fireweed247]

50. The majority want single payer NOT FOR PROFIT health care

This is OUR country not theirs.

WE will get what we want when we stop capitulating to the 'leaders' and start doing the leading ourselves.

Obama did what he had to to get elected. He would not get contributions or corporate media support if he stood up to these institutions(see Kucinich) Now that he is in there, we must DEMAND he answer to the will of the people.

[NeedleCast]

48. Nope. Going from what we have now to single payer is probably an impossbility

There will need to be something in between. A step in the right direction will at least get the ball rolling as opposed to "do nothing at all" that we experienced for the last eight years.

[imdjh]

51. I will not support him if he doesn't support single payer

[imdjh]

52. Floridians Call Bill Nelson and demand Single Payer

Washington, D.C.
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Orlando
Landmark Two
225 East Robinson Street, Ste 410
Orlando, Florida 32801
Phone: [phone]
Toll Free in Florida: 1-888-671-4091
Fax: [phone]

Miami-Dade
2925 Salzedo Street
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Phone: [phone] Telephone
Fax: [phone]

Tampa
Sam Gibbons Federal Court House
801 N. Florida Ave., 4th Floor
Tampa, Florida 33602
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

West Palm Beach
500 Australian Avenue Suite 125
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Tallahassee
US Court House Annex
111 North Adams Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Jacksonville
1301 Riverplace Blvd, Suite 2218
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Broward
3416 South University Drive
Davie, FL 33328
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Fort Myers
Justice Center Annex Building
2000 Main Street, Suite 801
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[depakid]

59. I fully expect that we'll be sold out again

though could be I'll be surprised.

[TheCoxwain]

62. we are democrats .. there is no known cure

we like to assume the fetal position under the couch before our foes can sneeze.

[depakid]

85. Seems to be the pattern

If its not Republican bullies- then it's the DINO's dictating policy on behalf of their corporate sponsers.

[Juche]

60. Deeply, for several reasons

1. About 80% of the public supports a public option. So if Obama and the super majorities in the house and senate cannot get a public option with that kind of broad support, we truly are nothing more than a corrupt plutocracy.

2. Obama is supposed to be liberal. He supported single payer before he became a senator back in 2003, and I hope he sticks by his principals. If he deep down inside supports single payer (which he does, look up the video of him in 2003 at the AFL-CIO meeting) but he won't even support a public option in a healthcare plan then he is willing to abandon his own principals pretty easily.

3. Obama's health care plan is lifted heavily from the research by the commonwealth fund, which found that in order to save $3 trillion over the next decade in lower healthcare costs you need public and private plans to compete. I have no idea if private plans competing will have the same benefit.

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Fund-Reports/2009/Feb/The-Path-to-a-High-Performance-US-Health-System.aspx

[nebenaube]

64. I support single payer...

Anything less is still economics driven eugenics.

[sohndrsmith]

68. I've been shamefacedly avoiding this entire topic because I

really don't understand which specifics mean what or to whom.

When I read "Public Option" I though of "Public Assistance" (as in the sort of health insurance people qualify for who have no way of obtaining - much less - affording other health insurance).

I'm guessing I'm completely wrong on that.

But just to reinforce my ignorance, I'll continue on a bit: I've heard Obama state repeatedly that anyone who wants to keep whatever coverage they have now don't have to change or do anything differently. I'm assuming that includes people receiving assistance via state funded coverage. Or is that entirely different?

Sorry all - I really am confused. Trying to read and research hasn't seemed to clarify much for me....

[CTyankee]

74. As I've said above, the public option doesn't HAVE to be the equivalent of Medicaid.

A public plan will have some cost attached, but it will be lower than private plans. They need to make it very attractive to the younger, healthier people in order to spread the risk around. Younger people may need the cheaper public plan. They may not want to spend a lot of money on their health care when they are so healthy (which is why so many go uncovered now). It just has to be a "rich" enough plan to compete and it has to have enough taxpayer support to allow reimbursement to doctors competitively with private plans. That way, it can succeed.

[TheCoxwain]

78. Should this be open to companies instead of just individuals?

I think it should ...


everyone can save money ..

[CTyankee]

83. It should be. I don't see why not.

Do you see any reason companies couldn't offer it along withthe private plans?

[TheCoxwain]

86. Schumer is making it difficult for people to switch ... Insurance companies want a

"level playing field" .....which really means that the public option will be running up the slope.

There is going to be 'language' that will determine and who and and under what conditions can buy the public option.

[CTyankee]

91. Well, it will be up to Obama to tell Schumer he's got to take a fall on this

one. I wonder if Teddy hasn't been giving Schumer some hell, if he's at all able to. Teddy and Schumer appear to be buddies -- we saw them having a grand time tailgating at the Harvard Yale game 3 years ago here at the Yale Bowl in New Haven. But that was before Teddy got sick...

[Oregone]

77. "Public option" is just a public owned/operated insurance company compete against private market

It will not be funded by the government (according to early reports). It will just exists as an insurance agency anyone can sign up at. It probably won't make a profit. Thats all. Depending on the details, it could be an OK idea or a miserable idea. No one has to switch anything because its really just another company.

They could just change some of AIGs policies and have this operating yesterday.

[enlightenment]

88. I'm voting for 'miserable idea'

given that it's just another insurance company - only it will be one that, because it can't legally suck every last cent from the buyers, will be underfunded. An underfunded insurance company will offer little in the way of comprehensive coverage.

[sohndrsmith]

70. I've been shamefacedly avoiding this entire topic because I

really don't understand which specifics mean what or to whom.

When I read "Public Option" I though of "Public Assistance" (as in the sort of health insurance people qualify for who have no way of obtaining - much less - affording other health insurance).

I'm guessing I'm completely wrong on that.

But just to reinforce my ignorance, I'll continue on a bit: I've heard Obama state repeatedly that anyone who wants to keep whatever coverage they have now don't have to change or do anything differently. I'm assuming that includes people receiving assistance via state funded coverage. Or is that entirely different?

Sorry all - I really am confused. Trying to read and research hasn't seemed to clarify much for me....

[CTyankee]

90. I am not up on this very much either but my understanding all along has been

that a public option would exist alongside private plans and it would be more affordable, but would cost something. Medicaid would still exist because it is for people who cannot pay anything for their health care. It may be that Medicaid would have to be expanded upward (i.e. raise the income level you can have and still be eligible)because some people might fall thru the cracks between the public plan and Medicaid as it now exists.

[sohndrsmith]

101. THANK YOU for your explanation. Unfortunately, people already

do fall through the cracks... with this and many other issues. ; (

[Vinca]

73. If there is no public option I will be pissed beyond belief.

He will have let me down in the largest way possible and I will definitely rethink my support.

[redqueen]

79. My enthusiasm changes all the time...

will I be surprised if he signs a bill without a public option? No.

Will I be disappointed? Yes.

We've drifted so far to the right, it's hard to have much hope for any significant change. I only ever expected very little, and incremental change. Don't know if that makes me a pessimist or a realist.

[CTyankee]

87. Well, if he does that then he is explicitly going AGAINST a strong campaign promise.

And one that was a key factor in getting him elected. AFter all, it's hard to paint supporters of a public option as a "special interest" group the way repukes like to characterize gays, feminists, prochoice, etc. When it has broad public support it's hard to say oh, it's just a little band of troublemakers and we can screw 'em. Health care affects everybody.

I pray that Obama's people have this thing figured out...

[Jakes Progress]

89. I want what they have.

I want health insurance as good and as cheap as our elected representatives get. Anything less is a slap. If your senator, representative, president votes for anything less, it is an indication that they don't believe your are worth as much as they are.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

93. In reviewing Obama's campaign materials, that is exactly what he promised

a new public plan based on the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program. I want him to deliver. I don't care if it's hard. I don't care if it's bi-partisan.

[Jakes Progress]

100. I want exactly the plan

that the senators and representatives have. They get to vote for their plan so they should give us what they give themselves. I don't want the plan that they foist off on minor government employees, one that costs an arm and a leg. I want the one that my senators have at the same rate that he and she pays. Short of that, they are all lying to us.