The Public Option in Disguise

[Revmitchell]

In the ongoing attempts of Congress to find an alternative to the “public plan” in health reform, the Senate bill includes a provision to give the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) a new role: sponsoring health plans to compete against private health plans in every state in the nation.


Heritage expert Ed Haislmaier has studied the provisions responsible for this new role for OPM, which currently oversees the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program (FEHBP), and finds that OPM’s new power would go well beyond its current capacity and allow for the creation of this de facto public option.

More Here

 

[FR7 Baptist]

That's cool, but I still don't see this being as good as a public option because the insurance exchanges are technically private. While there are a lot of good things in the Senate bill and it will save a lot of lives, it just doesn't go far enough. The bad thing is that this bill is so watered down, there is a good chance it will fail. I started out a moderate in this debate and supported a public option, but as it unfolded I kept moving to the left. I still think a public option is the best way to go, but I am no longer opposed to a single payer, universal, government run, Medicare-for-all system like Canada has. I read some things on this board in the archives from some Canadian members about their healthcare. It sounds so good. It's not perfect, but the Canadian model is one very good way to provide healthcare for all Americans.

 

[Revmitchell]

It will save no lives and it will drive this country further toward Marxism

 

[matt wade]

I read some things on this board in the archives from some Canadian members about their healthcare. It sounds so good.

Free ice cream, fishing boats, and vacation houses for every citizen sounds good too, but that doesn't mean it's the proper thing to do.

 

[FR7 Baptist]

Free ice cream, fishing boats, and vacation houses for every citizen sounds good too, but that doesn't mean it's the proper thing to do.

That's true. Our difference is if healthcare reform is proper, so let's stick with that topic.

 

[just-want-peace]

That's true. Our difference is if healthcare reform is proper, so let's stick with that topic.

Emphasis mine

Paul, I do believe you are slowly, but surely beginning to see the light!