I'm for major health-insurance reform but have mixed feelings toward the "public option." I think it's a slippery slope toward killing competition and private insurance companies — which would leave the government plan as the only option. I say this because government decides on legislation and collects our tax dollars — and there just isn't a level playing field. I'm not saying having a single U.S. health-care plan would be bad, I'm just not sure — and I don't think the plan has a great chance at getting enough votes anyway.
My idea: Pass legislation now that promotes independent nonprofits to compete against private insurance companies. Nonprofits would have their greatest focus on the patient — not schemes, profits and million-dollar executive bonuses.
There are some other great ideas out there now like this nonprofit idea, including serious insurance regulations to protect patients, tort reform, portability, watchdog/consumer-feedback groups etc. So why not pass a bill that includes and initiates some of these ideas now, and then see the results.
If the system doesn't improve, then put the public option back on the table. But once we have a government-run public option, I believe we'd always have the government-run plan. My idea just seems like a more logical solution that could be implemented quickly to help the uninsured and underinsured who are suffering now under our current unethical system. Whatever your thoughts are, let our representatives know. Maybe this will boost the level of urgency to a higher level.
— Scott Sessoms
Asheville
The same argument you make (unfair competition), was argued when Medicaid, and Medicare were developed and the private sector remains in business today (going strong I might add)… which is why reform is desperately needed.
I never understood why health insurance providers would not be non-profits in the first place, like most hospitals, clinics, etc.
The underlying fundemental, legal, purpose of any for-profit corporation is to increase shareholder wealth. No one can ever tell me why health insurance was allowed/encouraged/directed to become for-profits in the first place and non-profits were not.