Hot Topic (9/12): Health care--do you want a "public option"?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A top House Democrat said Tuesday he could vote for a health-care bill that lacks a government-funded public insurance option, signaling movement toward a compromise as Congress returned from an August recess dominated by the issue.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted that a public option was essential to passing health care reform legislation

However, the statement by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the chamber's second-ranking Democrat, differed from the insistence later Tuesday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that a public option was essential to passing a bill in the chamber.

The contrasting statements showed the political obstacles facing legislators as they confront at least five health-care proposals after hearing from a divided public at hundreds of town meetings during the August break.

Also Tuesday, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee held out hope for reaching agreement with Republican colleagues on a compromise health-care bill that lacks a public option provision but includes a new tax on insurance companies that provide expensive health coverage.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, told reporters after meeting with five other committee members who have been negotiating a bipartisan proposal for months that only a handful of outstanding issues remain.

"There are about four or five things that I would say are somewhat significant," said Baucus, who gave the negotiators until 10 a.m. Wednesday to come up with counter-proposals. "There are ways to solve those."

President Obama and most Democratic leaders continue to back the public option, which has become the most contentious issue in overhauling the nation's ailing health-care system.

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What's your take on the health care debate? 

Do you want the government to offer a "public option"?   Would you exchange your current plan for a government "public option"?

How do you think the goverment would pay for such a plan? 

[conniecabe]

I voted other. This poll is missing an option...what about my insurance is INADEQUATE and paid for by my employer?   I am in favor of a public option.  Here's a simple explanation by Robert Reich, former Labor Secretary.

[EireLass]

I didn't vote. I have not paid attention to the whole health care debate, and not sure what it's really all about. I live in MA. I have insurance from the state. I work full time, but am single, and given all things to qualify, I have this with a monthly premium. I've had it for a couple years and am quite happy with it. My boss recently took over my premiums for me.

I recently got hurt on the job. My boss starts the workmans comp thing. I go to my primary, she made an appointment that day for me to see a neuro-surgeon. He wants a new MRI prior to seeing me. The workers comp doctor (who I have no idea who he is, never met him) says it's not medically necessary. Hmmm. I know this surgeon is tops in his field, but I'm pretty sure he can't see through my skin to see what the issue is. I was told that while I have an open workers comp case, my own insurance won't pay for things. So here I am.......

[Mergath]

I would love to see a public option.  I'd really prefer a single-payer system, but I think we all know that's not going to happen anytime this century.  At least the public option has a chance to drive down the cost of premiums for everyone.

[MAUREEN55]

I voted, and I have adequate insurance from my employer. But I still would like to see a public option because my brother, 2 of my best friends' husbands, my mother's best friend, my neighbors, and many other people I know are currently uninsured.   Even thought I personally don't need the public option it would provide insurance for many middle class adults who currently don't get the care they need because their jobs don't provide insurance and getting it is impossibly expensive.

[aidansmommy961]

Although my family has health coverage, I would like a public option or even a single payer system. I was an uninsured child and was basically not allowed to get sick or get hurt. When I broke my arm at age 12, a public hospital put on my cast but they make you go to an orthopedic doctor to get it removed and we couldn't find one that would take me without coverage. It's ridiculous that the American health care system is so far behind so many other countries when we boast about how "great" we are!

[luckcharm]

 I have pretty good health insurance through my employer.

My issues with the Health care reform doesn't stem from the type of insurance I have its more that nothing you hear adds up.

I want to know more of the "how to" facts,  everyone goes on and on about how great it would be but really don't dig down into how it will work and how they will pay for it.   If I heard a lot more about that kinda thing I may be for it.

 

[PurdueMom]

We need the public option or health care in this country will implode.

[1bluediamond]

Cafemom I picked this one My health insurance is adequate and paid for by me and my employer., BUT I would have perferred but the cost is extraordinary and outrageous for the adequate coverage, and I would prefer a public option. 

[Vampee_Mom]

I have halfway crappy insurance through my husband's employer. Let's put it this way. I have insurance, if it's ever used for anything major, I will be in the poor house because I wouldn't be able to pay off my portion.. So I have insurance, that I can't really afford to use, because it only pays up to 70% of ~~some~~ cost, not all, and has a really high deductible.

I want to see a public option. A true public option. Not this BS they keep trying to peddle. I want to see a public option, single payer, universal healthcare, not health insurance, option.

We the American tax payers, already pay for a few different public options when you think about it. Between medicaid, medicare, the insurance that all elected officials get to have, even Tricare fits into this.. It seems ridiculous to me, to have so many different government plans that only cover certain people, when all tax payers are paying for the.  Consolidate all into one plan, cut out overhead for different plans, it would help to cut down the fraud throughout the various plans, and it would give everyone the ~~option~ for using a system they already pay for if they choose to.

I'm sick of discussing insurance. lets' actually talk healthcare. How much would it save people and the country itself, if there were a public option for basic healthcare, with an emphasis on preventative care.

[anxiousschk]

I have FANTASTIC insurance through DH's employer.  I don't mind sharing we pay $190/mo for a family of 3. 

I see what the teachers here pay and it's about triple that for a family. 

Our coverage is awesome and we also have a FSA that the company matches....for every $3 we put in, they put in $1. 

We usually max it out....

I still want a public option. 

No, we wouldn't use it...but if insurance companies are going to be forced to suddenly cover people who have gone without insurance for a long time..and now have all these pre-existing conditions..what's that going to do to the bottom line of everyone already paying for insurance? 

It's goingto raise it. 

A public option that people were required to purchase if they couldn't afford what the private companies wanted would solve that problem.