Democrats May Unite On Public Health Plan

Emboldened By Apparent Public Backing For "Public Option", Democrats May Drop Attempt To Compromise

(CBS/AP)  Emboldened by polls that show public backing for a government health insurance plan, Democrats are moving to make it a politically defining issue in the debate over the future of medical care.

Behind-the-scenes attempts to get a deal with Republicans on nonprofit co-ops as an alternative to a public plan have led only to frustration, complains a key Democrat. He and his colleagues may have to go it alone, said Sen. Chuck Schumer.

The co-ops were seen as perhaps the last hope for compromise on a contentious issue that threatens any remaining prospects of bipartisan support for President Obama's sweeping plan to remake the health care system.

"I don't think I could say with a straight face that this (co-op proposal) is at all close to a nationwide public option," Schumer, D-N.Y., told The Associated Press on Sunday. "Right now, this co-op idea doesn't come close to satisfying anyone who wants a public plan."

Most Democrats want the final health care bill to include a government sponsored plan that for the first time would be open to middle-class workers and their families. It would be offered alongside private plans through a new kind of insurance purchasing pool called an exchange. Individuals and small businesses would be able to buy coverage through exchanges, but eventually businesses of any size might be able to join.

Proponents say the option of a public plan in the marketplace would put a brake on costs and check the power of insurers. But Republicans, insurers and many business leaders say a government plan could drive private insurance companies out of business.

Nonetheless, two recent news media polls have found public support for a government plan, even if many people are unsure about its implications. The most recent survey, a New York Times-CBS News poll released Sunday, found that 72 percent supported the idea, including half of those who identified themselves as Republicans.

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Read The Complete Poll (pdf)

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"The polling data backs up our subjective view that to make health care reform work, you need a public option," said Schumer.

The poll revealed, however, that obstacles remain regarding the American people's perception of a public option, and the broader reform effort underway in Congress. Many Americans expressed concerned that their own health care may be compromised if the government became directly involved, and while they were generally willing to pay more in taxes for universal coverage, that support dropped when dollar amounts were mentioned.

Some Senate Democrats have considered nixing the public option proposal in order to win Republican support for the bill.

Schumer's role is important because he had been acting as an intermediary between liberal Democrats and moderates who are trying to strike a deal on the issue with Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee. Of the five House and Senate committees working on health care, Finance is the only one that appears to have a chance at reaching a bipartisan agreement.

Schumer said Finance Republicans had rejected several proposals designed to beef up the suggested nonprofit insurance co-ops. These included setting up a national structure for the co-ops, $10 billion in government seed money, power to negotiate payment rates to medical providers nationwide and creation of a presidentially appointed board of directors.

Without "dramatic" changes, Schumer said he would oppose the co-ops deal and urge other Democrats to do so as well. The Finance Committee compromise could be unveiled as early as this week. Senators were forced to start again last week because initial cost estimates were well above their 10-year, $1 trillion target.

The next few weeks will be pivotal in the debate. Democrats want to push ahead as far as they can before the July 4 congressional recess. Over the break, comments from constituents could determine whether Congress sticks to its goal of passing legislation this summer.

Both sides are nervous. Some Democrats say they doubt the plan has enough Democratic support to clear the Senate.

"I think there's a lot of concern in the Democratic caucus," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Finance Committee, said lawmakers are rethinking their wish list, which includes coverage for all and slowing the rate of medical cost increases - goals that may be in conflict.

"So we're in the position of dialing down some of our expectations to get the costs down so that it's affordable and, most importantly, so that it's paid for because we can't go to the point where we are now, of not paying for something when we have trillions of dollars of debt," said Grassley, also appearing on CNN.

[splashy79]

I would rather have single payer universal health care, but at least the public plan would give me a choice of not supporting the vulture private insurance companies.

Actually, it would make it possible for me to have SOME kind of health care. In my state, anyone that is childless between the ages of 18-65 can't get any help at all when it comes to Medicaid. We are completely left out. Then people wonder why people have children when they are poor...

[sjc_1]

Optional National Health Insurance, NOT mandatory. One great way to provide affordable health care for millions of Americans.

[Dgunner]

This will no doubt sweep the deadbeat parent issue right under the rug.This WILL creatE relief in many homes of grandparents who are paying for the welfare of thier grand children becuase , well thier own off spring is too fkin sorry to take care of thier own children. BREEDERS THAT NEED TO BE CUT. WHITES, BLACKS COLORS OF ALL RACES RIDE THE WHITE PONY TO THE WELFARE OFFICE.

[sabniz]

Public plan should be in place, or else no health care reform will work. The key for such a public plan to succeed and as a way to cover everyone is to make it as a basic plan, a minimum coverage plan, which limits yearly doctor visits, hospital stay and annual maximum medical spending, such that it can be affordable to all and government won't go broke by covering everyone with such a plan. Any extra coverages or supplemental coverages will still be provided by private insurance.

Note that with a public basic plan to compete in market place, no private insurance companies will automatically lower insurance premium or provide coverage for everyone in US. All that uninsured people cost government and everyone else more and more money, which is a fact we can no longer ignore and if we don't do anything, sooner or later some of those who are covered by medical insurance now may be forced to join uninsured pool, in the case of loosing jobs or running out of money.

[sabniz]

correction: "Note that WITHOUT a public basic plan to compete in market place, no private insurance companies will automatically lower insurance premium or provide coverage for everyone in US."

[chabuka-2009]

I know where we can "find" the money for a single-payer national health care system...Sen. Grassley..you can start by, stop passing every new spending bill for Iraq..pay your (all of Congress can pay!) taxes on your government paid single-payer insurance programs..and all you Congress critters can stop spending your 1.5 million dollar allotment, the MRA (Member Representational Allowances) you are handed every year, and stop taking bribes from the private medical industries (so you won't be letting the corporations money stop your performing your real job, which is to represent the will of the American people, you Jack-Ass!) if you all can't do that then expect to loose your seat in either the House or the Senate...won't matter how much money the private medical industries give you for your re-election..the people will vote you out..the people have the votes and we are very tired of paying you people in Congress to lobby in FAVOR of corporations (we'll discuss the U.S. Supreme Courts, DOJ and judicial system's "corporate favoritism" at another time) while you kick the people in the teeth

[jd2408]

My neighbors 86 year old husband was taken to the hospital last spring. His wife told me they called in 8 different doctors to take care of him including a foot specialist and psychiatrist. She couldn't see anything wrong with his feet and already knew he wasn't in his right mind. After three weeks in the hospital they transferred him to a nursing home and he died the first week there. She says they didn't tell her ahead of time what they were doing. It makes you wonder if there is much more going on with health care that the rest of us don't know about.

[actornaught]

Lost jobs in the insurance industry? Individually, sorry about that. But we don't care about productive, and/or basic industry jobs, such as steel production. What-the-eff does a bunch of extraneous paper pushers matter?

I look forward to when we'll have a tired laugh about the extinct phrase 'pre-existing condition'....

[incog-nito]

Let's see: Employers are constantly reducing coverage and making employees pay more and more. Many have dropped health care coverage altogether. And many have dropped their 401K matching, and more are expected to follow suit. And people who are unemployed, self-employed, etc. find themselves without health coverage, and risk a financial disaster if they get sick or are in an accident.

But NOOOOOOO! some fools still think we shouldn't do anything and let the magical invisible hand of the "free market" handle everything. Costs will magically stop rising, reverse themselves and come down. Insurers will stop denying people with pre-existing conditions or drop coverage for those who are sick. Unemployed and self-employed people will suddenly find cheap individual coverage out of nowhere.

Yeah, that'll happen.

[chitown639]

This new format SUCKS....I'm outta here!!!

[skyk-2009]

by darthcheney123 June 22, 2009 8:50 AM PDT
by chitown639 June 22, 2009 7:26 AM PDT
No, only the working and middle class....

-------------------

Yes, the Obama Democrats keep forgetting to help them....

Where were you last November? Oh! Let me guess! You were one of those ditto heads who didn't want to talk about Trickle Down or the Economic Meltdown! LOL I'll bet YOU were one of the Birthers or better yet one of those, "Don't vote for him he's a Muslim" losers! In case you missed it the Confederate Party was KICKED OUT for complete, total and absolute FAILURE. We HAD an INCOMPETENT PRESIDENT who refused to even give insurance to CHILDREN of the Working American's who couldn't provide it. LOL There's a REASON you in the fringe right are at or below 25% in support... LOL

[skyk-2009]

What we do know is that the doctors who will be providing your health care are totally against it. The people who work for and have their coverage are perfectly happy with it. What we do KNOW is that the DEMOCRATS have done NOTHING to actually bring the cost of providing health care down. NOT ONE THING? So tell me, how is the government operation going to be cheaper? IT'S NOT! It just means that THE GOVERNMENT is going to be robbing you blind for a tax dollar on anything and everything you have and do.

GOOD LUCK! I'm NOT BUYING IT!

So what the American People want shouldn't matter. We don't want to upset those profit driven Insurance Companies. IF YOU don't like the PLAN you don't have to use the Plan. It will, after start up, be completely self sufficient and will be an OPTION. What are you Crackers so afraid of.. it's called COMPETITION and for how long now have you clowns been telling us how superior Private Companies are to Public Insurance... here's a chance for you to Prove that to all.... LOL YOU people are so scared and so simple minded you have a yellow streak a half mile wide running the full length of your back. We HAVE the WORST now... HOW do you get WORSE than the WORST?? LOL WE NOW PAY MORE AND GET LESS THAN ANYONE for crying out loud!!

[skyk-2009]

I don't see any ideas or solutions in your post, either.

And it looks like you're the one who's attacking other posters.

Self righteous judgemental hypocrisy is the order of the day for Democrats.

:I don't see any ideas or solutions in your post, either.

And it looks like you're the one who's attacking other posters.

Self righteous judgemental hypocrisy is the order of the day for Democrats

LEARN TO READ ditto head! What are you? A sixth grade Grad? TOPS! As I said in a previous post the AMERICAN People should make the decision in a competitive environment. How long have you poor simple minded ditto heads been repeating the talking point from your brain to the effect that Private Companies are better than Public One's, well lets put them both out there and let them compete. Like I said before THIS isn't rocket science. Now EVERY High School in this nation has night course... find one and take some reading classes.. who knows you MIGHT learn to THINK for yourself... LOL

[chitown639]

by darthcheney123 June 22, 2009 8:48 AM PDT
You mean, THIS kind of fear:

http://www.moonbattery.com/Elian-Gonzalez.jpg

Yah, Elian Gonzales looks pretty terrorized all right. Why did the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION do that to him?

When it comes to terrorizing children with fear tactics, nothing beats the Democrats.
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Elian Gonzales??? You're still fighting that battle....little Elian is home with his ONLY living parent and his brothers and sisters where he belongs...and you can thank the Clinton Administration for standing up for families........

[chitown639]

by darthcheney123 June 22, 2009 8:58 AM PDT

Excuse me, but most families with children can DO WITHOUT machine gun wielding storm troopers crashing down their front door and kicking in the bedroom door of a little boy's bedroom, leaving children and adults alike screaming in terror.

How would YOU feel about this happening in YOUR house, all over a custody dispute??????

This is NOT the way to handle a family custody issue. If you think storm troopers with machine guns are the way to resolve a custody issue, that SAYS IT ALL about you.

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The custody hearing had already been RESOLVED in court, but the ADULTS refused to follow the court orders.....even a third rate moron like yourself should know that we live in a country of LAWS, those buffoons thumbing their noses at our courts were lucky they weren't all haul off to jail.....

Why REHASH that old story anyway....it has nothing to do with health care.....

[iam4honesty]

JUST DO IT!!! Republicans are irrelevant, going the way of the Whigs. GET THIS DONE NOW!! NO MORE PANDERING TO THE RIGHTWING TRAITORS!! Hasn't America suffered enough? It's past time to turn a deaf ear to the republican party, they will be gone soon anyway.
RIP
GOP

[skyk-2009]

I agree! Right now in my part of the Country No Politician who want's to be elected to anything puts an "R" in front. They have NO intentions of doing anything but stalling and scaring people. Put it in place and we can adjust after that if needed.

[skyk-2009]

If the Democrats don't get this done then it won't get done. Republican's have done NOTHING for health care except LIE, STALL and Scare people. If you do not want the Public Option that's up to you but it will keep cost down and it will give the private Insurance Companies much needed Competition. For how long have we been told by the Confederate Party that Private Companies can do much better than the Public ones can. Here's their chance to PROVE it. The American People should make the choice NOT some Paid for Politician.

[skyk-2009]

by ur_u_nuts June 22, 2009 4:39 AM PDT
I'm already out of it. Too bad you aren't as intelligent as I am but then again you are the weakest link!
I hope your burial expenses are already paid for. Medicine by committee will get you killed more times then you know. Enjoy, comrade! :D

Now THIS is a typical response from a ditto head. Don't have a solution? Don't have an Idea? Attack the person who DOES with the standard trash we've heard now of decades and decades. WE have been LIED to so many times by these people. First, they say we don't need a Public Plan because it would be MORE Expensive than Private. (look back at the scare tactics during the Truman Administration) Then we should have a Public Plan because Private Plans are better and allow for Choice. Now, after HMO and Managed Care, we are told we can't have a Public Plan because it would put HMO's and Managed Care out of business. Honest, anyone believing ANYTHING these PAID FOR Politicians in the Republican Party says, after all that, deserves to have the Worst Health Care System in the World.

[ralpherus]

the best way to pay for average-American health care would be to stop wasteful spending in other places: STOP pensions to members of congress. STOP the last ten pay raises to members of congress STOP free travel to members of congress and their families (a congressman's job is in DC) STOP health care coverage to members of congress (they get rich from donations and bribes and can buy their own coverage! Or be on the same plans as EVERYONE ELSE) STOP letting congressmen think they are our lords and we are their servants, when THEY are the servants. STOP allowing illegally present foreigners to use our health care system- even with money. Do these things- and add up the savings- then we can look for more to cut if needed...

[boredoftherings]

ok, i'd like a two things cleared up.

-will taxes be increased for every citizen or just those participating in the public option?

-will people that don't pay taxes still benefit from the public option, i.e illegals?

[ubrew12]

The Democrats want to push their 'public option' because they worry that more and more Americans are beginning to realize that universal healthcare (i.e. single payer or Medicare-for-all, which every one of our trading partners uses) isn't what they have in mind. Their 'public plan' mostly just gives tax money to the insurance corporations that have turned American healthcare into such an expensive joke.

The public should not be fooled. Single-payer healthcare insures everyone and gets RID of the insurance corporations. This drastically cuts administrative costs, the savings of which can be used to pay for the transition.

Canada has single payer. They have SUPERIOR healthcare to the U.S., according to the World Health Organization, and they pay HALF what we pay here.

[chitown639]

The Republicans are trying to protect the insurance companies, they don't want them to lose any of the $2 trillion they're scamming the public out of.....