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Personally I would HATE if the government ran the health care. But, I would like the government to compete with the insurance companies.



It amuses me some people think the government would just compete. 10 years and especially 20 years later, it just becomes government subsidies.

Some single payer advocates have gone on the record stating that they consider the public option as a transition towards single payer. Barney Frank is one of them. Stating this despite the obvious political backlash.

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But I opted to go with Medicare C which is actually private health insurance that covers A, B & D.



Medicare part C is Medicare Advantage. You realize this bill cuts that program?

A big way this bill tries to pay for itself in the federal budget is cuts to Medicare. Half a trillion in cuts. Then, you read the Center for Medicare Services report and it basically says that level of cuts is just not possible. But, the bill says it so they can get a good fiscal rating from the CBO. And, Obama can run around saying, "saves money on the deficit in the 1st decade, and the 2nd!".

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This was one of the good things Bush did with Medicare reform. He let private companies in. So instead of Medicare getting my $100, GHI does.



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I think this competition has worked quite well for me. And, for the companies involved [most are so excited to get you that they'll even send someone to your house to explain the plan]. And, Medicare gets some relief, too.



Ah, you think govt could compete because you see it in Medicare? I'm not familiar with how Medicare evolved so that private companies got in. But, you're saying Bush let them in. So now, the very next president is supporting a bill which we're inches from passing that's cutting the program that lets private insurers compete.

You see how government programs over time have a tendency towards just getting bigger? Competing with private industry is just not something that's in the DNA.

I can see how you can draw a line in the sand and assume politicians will be strict about obeying that competition line. But in reality, the only thing politicians are strict about is making sure they have enough money to run their next campaign. And, government only gets bigger.

I had to verify something while I was writing this. Here's a PBS story on the history of Medicare Advantage. I've just skimmed it: Click