Some "public option" (as currently written.)
Look at the difference between what Dean envisioned (all Americans having the choice to buy in to Medicare, a plan that all over 65 are in, therefore not an indigent, or lower-income-only plan, and with wide provider participation), and the HR 3200 version of "reform": . . . that is, a "public option" that is ONLY AVAILABLE to those under 4xFPL (that is, with incomes under 14,570 x 4 = $58,160 for a family of 2
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml), and with many, if not most, physician choosing not to participate, since PROVIDER participation is OPTIONAL).
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6095831&mesg_id=6095831If it was widely known that the major House "reform" bill (HR 3200) would propose a "public option" only for lower income Americans, would mandate that everyone purchase insurance or be fined 2.5% of income if insurance is too expensive), would create a weak lower-income-only "public option" with limited provider participation, setting the precedent for the privatization of Medicare itself and a complete
TWO TIERED system, and all this was to be presented as the "progressive" plan before the bill even goes to the Senate (with Baucus, Nelson, Lieberman, et al) and conference committee, HOW MANY WOULD SUPPORT IT?
Is it any wonder that the corporate interests want us to leave the details to them, not worry our "pretty little heads", and just be happy that "change" and "reform" is on the way?
(The same special interests that have lobbied, so far successfully, to make participation by providers in the public option NOT MANDATORY, are continuing their longstanding attempts to destroy Medicare by allowing Medicare participating physicians to "privately contract" outside of Medicare with Medicare beneficiaries. This is currently only allowed if the physician provider ceases all participation in Medicare. The change they are wanting would open the floodgates to the creation of a two tiered system, markedly more expensive for the elderly. HR 3200, by sanctioning a two-tiered system in the public option for those under 6500, sets a strong precedent for heading our entire system in the direction of a complete two-tiered system - - - a weak public plan for the poor, and expensive mandatory insurance for the not yet poor).