The Real Truth Behind Public Option

Hi wayseeker,

Thanks for posting this.

Best wishes to you.

"Here is a better solution:
1) Remove the federal laws that restrict insurance companies from competing across state lines. More competition = less costs"
Not a better solution to my mind, but I certainly have no problem with it IN ADDITION to the public option.

Does anybody know if this Joe Wilson is part of the "Family" on C Street in Washington?

This video is a very simplistic explanation of the public option.

I am against the public option because I do not trust the future government of the US to NOT take over my healthcare. Every government program enacted has increased over time - Medicaid started out as a small safety net and it has grown into a behemoth that will be underfunded by several trillion dollars in the next 5-10 years.

Here is a better solution:
1) Remove the federal laws that restrict insurance companies from competing across state lines. More competition = less costs

2) Remove the tax breaks to employers offering health insurance plans, instead offer those tax breaks to individuals in the form of HSAs.

Enacting these two items will put the decisions of how to spend healthcare dollars in the consumers' hands. Young and healthy consumers can purchase catastrophic health insurance and pay for checkups and tests (when necessary) out of pocket with tax-free dollars. As the system works now, it essentially functions as a pre-paid health plan - you (or your employers) pay now for check-ups in the future. Compare it to auto insurance - would you pay insurance for oil changes, tune-ups or tires? You might, but you would vastly overpay for this pre-paid service.

Also, the cost of services from the doctors and hospitals is greatly inflated. You can negotiate a planned procedure (pregnancy for example) ahead of time with a hospital for 25%-30% of the cost they will bill an insurance company or medicaid. Putting the downward pressure on costs is in the consumers' hands, not the govt's.

Some things that make me question what's being suggested in Washington:
1) If Prez Obama says there are billions of waste in medicaid/medicare ($600 billion he states), why do we need to wait for healthcare overhaul to root that out?
2) Why are they not even discussing the idea of tort/legal reform as part of this comprehensive plan?
3) Why can't we take a first non-dramatic step to fixing health insurance? If the Public Plan is a trojan horse for gov't takeover of healthcare (as I believe it is), you cannot undo it later, it is with us for better or for worse for the next 60-100 years at least. I use social security as an example - it started as a safety net and has turned into a huge transfer of wealth to the baby boomers on the backs of the 20 year olds and future generations.

Let us discuss these issues, because the changes that Washington is talking about should not be taken lightly.

I could get the same insurance which i have now from my employer, which is a decent ppo, a lot cheaper by buying my own private policy. But since my employer offers it, I am not allowed to do so and am forced to pay out pool rates. Those are some the things we should be addressing to increase competition.

I can hope that it passes. I think I would freak out if I didn't have insurace. And i feel sorry for the people that can't afford medical care.

The Reich video is well-tuned and well-timed. I have shared it with everyone I know.

Joe Wilson not only is owned by the insurance companies, he also belongs to a Southern raciest organization. It's no wonder that he lost control of his emotions because a black president was speaking about insurance reform. Wilson is a bigot who has sold out to big business and doesn't deserve a minute of our time.

He is correct about the Public Option. After working almost 30 years in insurance and healthcare, I know that is the best way to go.

Joe Wilson is a walking, lying turd. What he has to say is unimportant.

We cannot put up with this bullshit in the United States of America. People's lives are at stake. Obama's right, the time for political games is over!

Joe Wilson is NOT anyone's 'political operative.' He's a brave congressman who just got annoyed with the way this "president" rams his agenda through Congress and nobody has the guts to say anything about it. No one seemed to mind when Democrats called Bush a liar...OR THREW THEIR SHOES AT HIM!!!! Don't get me wrong, Bush was bad too, but for real, let's take this in context: Obama's plan WILL insure illegal immigrants, and HE WAS LYING!!! Joe Wilson was the ONLY person who had the guts to tell the Emperor that he wasn't wearing any clothes.

One part he leaves out is the mandate that you will have to purchase a plan.

It's a corporate handout, and you're going to pay for it, not through taxes, but out of pocket.

The Republicans support the mandate too, just not the public option.

Don't support this crummy bill unless the mandates are removed.

Support HR 676, Medicare for All.

This is what we needed four months ago when the summer began with the crazy just screaming at the top of their lungs about a socialist takeover.

finally,remember that even a whisper is well heard. pass this on

SIMPLE! woo. short sweet and to the point.