What the hell does Opt -Out mean?

[nvme]

Ok I am ignorant. I read it on several sites. This is the first time I heard it bandied about, so someone with a little more saavy help me understand it. Is it a solid public option that may be opted out of? Who decides to opt out? The state legislatures, The Govenor, local govs?
Is this a way to help the DINO caucaus with their party?

[Warpy]

1. I think it's for individuals and/or companies

that decide for profit plans will give them a better deal.

[Ruby the Liberal]

10. Its on the state level

Letting states decide whether to offer a PO or not.

The default is 'in', but they can opt-out.

[Eric J in MN]

2. They would probably say that if a state legislature passes a bill saying that the residents...

...of that state can't choose the public option, then they can't.


RE: "Is it a solid public option that may be opted out of?"

That's the big question.

House Democrats generally want a strong public option, which pays doctors at rates similar to Medicare.

But of the two relevant Senate committees:

HELP - weak public option, must negotiate its own rates, so doctors get paid more, but patients get charged higher premiums and co-pays.

Finance- no public option, just co-ops.

[CreekDog]

3. Sell-out, Wimp-out, Give-up, etc.

those aren't actual definitions, but as a practical matter, that about covers it. :wtf:

[AlinPA]

4. That provision sounds like big trouble to me. It could go into the courts arguing its

constitutionality and hold up the whole public option.

[Eric J in MN]

5. Medicaid is opt-out for the states.

All 50 states have opted-in.

I don't think there is a strong constitutional argument against opt-out. Insurance regulation is mostly at the state-level already.

[AlinPA]

9. I didn't know that. Thanks Eric J.

[laughingliberal]

6. Best I can tell at this point it would establish a public option on a national level

but individual states can vote not to include it in their insurance exchange.

[Ruby the Liberal]

11. This is my understanding as well.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

7. How an opt-out would be implemented by states hasn't been decided

What I've read implies a public option (which one is yet unknown) would be offered to all states.

Then states would have to vote not to offer access of said public option to their citizens. This would be done via one of the following means; legislature, referendum, or a gubernatorial decree.

[nvme]

8. is that a good or bad thing?

Are states forced, by that I mean they are automatically opted "IN" unless they choose to opt "out"?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

12. Yes, the general assumption is that all states will have a public option

It's available to everyone unless their state of residence decides to opt-out. If a state opts-out the citizens there cannot buy into the more affordable public option plan and will be reduced to using private insurance. Which is a good thing for the private insurance companies, but not so much for the citizens since they lose an option.

What I've not heard a whisper of yet is whether there's going to be a mandate or not.

[MiniMe]

13. It depends on what state you are in, and if you are interested in a Public Option

Yes, it is a plan for the states to be able to opt-out of offering a public option. I think it was Schumer's amendment to the healthcare bill. It didn't pass, but we don't know what will come out of reconciliation yet. If you have a republican governor and a republican state legislature, it may be bad if you want the public option.

[nvme]

14. im in a swing state

Florida need I say more