Question: If the Robust Plan REDUCES the Deficit as the CBO Reports

[berni_mccoy]

Then why not start it earlier than 2013?

I believe all three versions of the bill in the House start the Public Option in 2013. I agree with Dean that something has to begin sooner for both political and moral reasons. If the plan is deficit reducing, why not begin it earlier?

[Junkdrawer]

1. Because, silly. Then we'd figure out the "Robust Plan" isn't before the 2012 elections....

What ever passes, the cheerleading and, well, outright lies will be thick and heavy on both sides for the next 3 years.

[rucky]

8. If people see direct benefits

then the screaming and shouting won't matter.

[RDANGELO]

2. It would probably take a while to set it up,

like starting a nation wide business from scratch. In the mean time they could limit the profit margins of the insurance companies, especially in areas where there is little competition.

[Uben]

3. Logistics?

Imagine the scale of such a program. People with the correct skills would need to be identified, vetted, hired, procedure would have to be established, office space and equipment has to be procured, people would have to be trained, and on and on and on. It's just not something you can do "immediately"

[JDPriestly]

9. So, start slowly with people 60-65. That would not take much.

Give them the choice of enrolling in a private plan or a public plan. Why not start at both ends. Children 1-5 would be eligible as would adults 60-65.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Shock To The System...

Moving millions onto a government plan will take time to gear up. Medicare isn't suited to handle a massive influx of people. Also there are sure to be millions more who either will drop or will be dropped from their corporate plans and that will increase the "waiting line". From the reading of the various bills, all have time provisions to allow for a government program to gear up and the 2013 date is for full implementation. Personally I'd like to see it sooner, but right now, I just want the option...and we can work on the mechanics afterwards.

[ipaint]

5. To give the ins. companies plenty of time to figure out how to

sink it before it can get going. Competing directly with private insurance, no subsidies from the government and severely limited enrollment might not be enough to totally destroy it.

When do mandates kick in?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. I go into orbit every time I hear that limitations on insurance abuses

like rescission, prior conditions, capped limits, do not take effect until 2011 0r 2013. They MUST be stopped THE DAY a bill is passed. Reform that does not reform those abuses immediately is no reform as far as I am concerned. At 40,000 deaths a year that is a potential 160,000 more deaths attributable to LOC (Lack of Coverage).

[Tippy]

7. The most important bill in Congress

How long did it take for Bush to start a war, a war that cost how many $?...no one can tell me we can not do it...No more Congressional Breaks until it's done would certanly light a fire.

[Overseas]

10. Open up Medicare in 2010 to all who want it.

Or at least incorporate 50+.

The private health insurers jack up the premiums to employers every 5 years after 50, to squeeze every last dollar out of us until they lose us to the more efficient public option we have in place now, Medicare.

I read somewhere that Medicare was up and running within 11 months of passing. Why do we need so much delay now, when are people are even more desperate than they were in 1965.