If the Public Option is not going to be offered...

[SHRED]

...to everyone.

How will the government insurance avoid being the dumping ground for the patients that private insurance didn't (or doesn't) want?


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[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. It won't avoid that

It also won't avoid running out of money almost immediately since it won't be funded by anything but premiums and tax credits supposedly. One year from its inception, the public option will be declared bankrupt and everyone will say - "See, we told you a public option would not work"

Well, of course it won't work if it's designed to not work from the getgo. Gee, what a surprise.

[vi5]

2. Theoretically because of the other laws/regulations...

There will be other laws in place making sure employers of a certain magnitude provide insurance, and then with the other regulations preventing them from dropping people or refusing coverage for pre-existings, etc. That being the case the public option will be for people who can't get other insurance through their work place.

It's not perfect, no doubt about that. But the other regulations they are putting in place will at least in theory prevent the private insurers from just dumping people into the public option.

[grytpype]

3. There is going to be an employer mandate

Plus laws against denying coverage for pre-existings.

So if you are employed you can get covered through your employer.

[SHRED]

4. What about those millions already turned away, out of work,...

...or currently self-employed?

[Autumn]

6. They get the republican plan

:shrug:

[vi5]

7. That's who the public option is intended for....

I guess I'm not seeing what the issue is? Isn't the reason we are in favor of a public option? For those people that can't get insurance through their employers or because they are self employed?

Yes, this would be a dumping ground if the insurers could still continue their old tricks. But if it's public option along with other regulations then the public option is for those whose employment situation does not allow them to be able to afford insurance?

Yes, single payer for all is the ideal and maybe this will be the first step towards that. But in the absence of single payer, the purpose of the public option would be to cover those who cannot get insurance through their employer.

[SHRED]

9. The way this PO is shaping up

I don't see it as a step towards something better like single-payer.
I see it written by the insurance lobbyists in order for it to fail.
Then we will be in for many more years of darkness as the bought off officials can tell us, "see, government insurance doesn't work".


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[RC]

5. Or employers that just can not afford to fund health insurance for their employees?

We need to get away from the mind-set that business need to be funding health insurance. Right now that is part of the problem.

We need to be looking at what the rest of the civilized world has and is doing about the health care for their own citizens.
They have already done the grunt work. All we have to do is cherry pick from what works. What is so hard about that? There is 50 years of experience to look at. Why are we trying to reinvent the wheel, or this case a simple shirt pocket. It's already been done numerous times already by other countries.

[SHRED]

8. Because "we" didn't write these Bills

The insurance lobbyists did.