General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The public option: how many of us remember when and why it died? [View all]BumRushDaShow
(169,665 posts)from me is not so much regarding what all the provisions are currently, but the fact that there is already a "government-run" system "in place" that can be updated and tweaked (with respect to types of coverage, etc), where people can be phased into it (by gradually dropping the age range for applying).
If you go with the Tricare model for the drugs (using competition), then that can be added into it.
I think the whole idea was that since the government-run option would NOT be done "for profit", then the "premiums" would ultimately be less, eventually driving down the costs charged by private insurers unless they can show they offer more "bang" for their higher "buck".
But this was most likely why it was fought against and failed because there was no way private could compete with public based on the fee-for-service model, and still try to generate a large profit.