Difference between revisions of "Public option"
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Private insurance companies want a requirement that individuals and employers purchase health insurance, but do not want the government to provide taxpayer-funded health insurance in competition with the private plans. | Private insurance companies want a requirement that individuals and employers purchase health insurance, but do not want the government to provide taxpayer-funded health insurance in competition with the private plans. | ||
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| − | [[ | + | While a public option is supposedly meant to compete alongside private insurance, many recognize that it could easily bankrupt most private insurance and lead to a "single payer" or government-controlled universal healthcare system. Congressman Barney Frank specifically said, "I think the best way we’re going to get single payer, the only way, is to have a public option and demonstrate the strength of its power."<ref>http://blog.heritage.org/2009/07/31/barney-frank-public-option-is-best-way-to-single-payer/</ref> Even President Obama has expressed support for a single payer system, although he has also stated that it might be too abrupt a change for the American people. |
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| + | ==References== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
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| + | [[Category:Politics]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Medicine]] | ||
Revision as of 21:20, August 13, 2009
The public option is a euphemistic term for part of the proposed government takeover of medicine, which would require individuals and employers to purchase health insurance (or else be fined) and offer a government-controlled insurance plan for them to purchase.
Private insurance companies want a requirement that individuals and employers purchase health insurance, but do not want the government to provide taxpayer-funded health insurance in competition with the private plans.
While a public option is supposedly meant to compete alongside private insurance, many recognize that it could easily bankrupt most private insurance and lead to a "single payer" or government-controlled universal healthcare system. Congressman Barney Frank specifically said, "I think the best way we’re going to get single payer, the only way, is to have a public option and demonstrate the strength of its power."[1] Even President Obama has expressed support for a single payer system, although he has also stated that it might be too abrupt a change for the American people.