The real problem with the Public option.

[Skink]

If it's less costly everybody's goona want it. Oh and the government then might be overwhelmed. Actually I think the more people that opt in.. the stronger the program would be. It's not free. the more socialism the better.

[Xipe Totec]

1. I can't wait to sign up!

:bounce:

[sandnsea]

2. It has a graduated implementation

Which some people are bitching about, but it's for the exact reason you said. If it's overwhelmed, they'll also call it a failure.

[Laelth]

5. The Progressive Caucus will not support it unless it is available immediately.

As per their July 24 letter to Pelosi:

July 24, 2009

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker, US House of Representatives
H-232, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Speaker Pelosi,

Thank you for continuing your strong leadership for health care reform. We write to you on behalf of the Congressional Progressive Caucus to encourage you to take bold action to ensure health care reform is passed in the House.

The time to reform our health care system is now. As Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, we believe that we must not delay a vote on health care reform. The need for reform is urgent. Approximately 14,000 Americans are losing their health care coverage each day and our businesses on Main Street and Wall Street are struggling to recover from our nation’s economic crisis.

Madam Speaker, as you are aware the CPC has been actively involved in health reform discussions over the last several months. The CPC is a strong and vocal advocate of a single payer approach. Nonetheless, we stand solidly behind our criteria for a robust public health insurance plan option.

We want to assure you that for our continued support, the public option must not be based on any trigger and must be available immediately. Further, the public plan must be on a level playing field and receive the same subsidies as private plans in the Health Exchange. And, it must be connected to the Medicare infrastructure, including the provider and payment system. Allowing providers to opt out of the public option has already created a loss of $91 billion in savings. We cannot tolerate further weakening of the public option.

We are also concerned about the latest discussion regarding the Independent Medicare Advisory Commission (IMAC). We understand that no final decision has been made. However if discussions move forward to make IMAC a reality, we ask that you include us in discussion as we have concerns with the governance, oversight, and the impact it would have on seniors, people with disabilities , doctors, and hospitals. Furthermore, we are concerned that IMAC could weaken the public option and negate our responsibilities as Members of Congress.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus stands united to provide high quality, affordable and accessible health care choices for all Americans. The Congressional Progressive Caucus stands committed to seeing health care reform pass now. It is time to put Americans back in charge of their health care and have the security and stability they deserve in a health care system.

We look forward to our ongoing involvement in the process.

Phasing in the public option is not an option if you want the 81 votes of the Progressive Caucus.

:)

:dem:

-Laelth

[sandnsea]

6. This isn't about a trigger

It's about putting it into action in incremental steps. Lowest income first, then up to 200%, then 300%, then larger small business, and then whoever is still out there. Like the House Bill the Progressive Caucus helped write.

[Laelth]

12. That's not what Lynn Woolsey indicated earlier today.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3992164

:dem:

-Laelth

[sandnsea]

13. She didn't say anything about a trigger in there

Just that she's not happy. So what. Nobody is going to be happy as they stomp their feet down the aisle and vote for the bill.

[TahitiNut]

3. "Everyone would want it" is the reason conservatives ADMIT they're against it!

It's truly a Through the Looking Glass time in our history when the conservatives have become so tone deaf and accustomed to the corporate elitism that they baldly admit that they're AGAINST something that the vast majority of people would want. Infuckingsane that they're not being tarred, feathered, and given a ride on a rail. The American public is totally out-to-lunch.

:grr: :grr:

[ejpoeta]

11. i like their two pronged argument....

no one wants it, but everyone would stampede towards it... they say it in the same breath.

[KharmaTrain]

4. There Will Be A Boom In Supplemental Coverage

The dirty secret here is a public system isn't going to cover everything. There will be procedures that won't be covered and limits on benefits. Yes, it won't be a free system and I could see a public system that only offers basic service. While very welcome...there will be a large market for supplemental or umbrella coverage that would benefit the insurance companies. The wouldn't be able to charge the obscene amounts they do currently or dictate the care...but there is room for the two to co-exist.

Yes...in time the more people in the public system, the stronger it will...but at the start there's going to be bugs and bumps. A reason I've been leery of single payer is that it requires developing a new beuacracy from scratch and all but make insurance companies obsolete that would put millions of policies into temporary chaos. Public option is a smoother transition and can be worked in...allowing for a transition time that it will need to be effective.

[sharesunited]

7. Why did universal coverage fail in Hawaii?

Because state governments can't create money. Universal coverage is only achievable at the federal level.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

8. I agree. The better the program, the more the program will be

Other options will die out.

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. Paradoxically, the biggest enemy of broad acceptance of the public option

... is the fact that the subsidies are set up in such a way that opting for the cheaper option usually provide any benefit for the person.

[ejpoeta]

10. here's the thing.... the bigger the pool, the better for everyone. the bigger the pool,

the more spread out the risk and the lower the cost to everyone. If you have healthy and sick in the same pool, then the fact that not everyone is sick at the same time means there is a steady in and out flow.... the problem with programs we see now is that it tends to only be sick people in the pool and poor people.... all the healthy who can afford to pay towards anything are in a different pool. this is why single payer would be best. but I think a strong public option would move us in the right direction.... and i know that is what the insurance companies are scared of. why would you deal with them if you had the choice to pay less and get more for your dollar... and less hassles.