The Ed Show - Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) discusses his amendment and the public option

[t0dd]

Run time: 04:47 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY7tC6x1gVg   Posted on YouTube: September 23, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: September 23, 2009 By DU Member: t0dd Views on DU: 854

 

[Postman]

1. Double-talking snake. The new definition of "Public Option"....

-- the public can choose from a list of PRIVATE insurance plans.

I'm a Federal worker. I have the same "options" as this double-talking snake. There is no "government-run" insurance plan to choose and it looks as if they are setting the stage to redefine what "public option" means.

To me, "public option" means the ability to choose a government-run insurance plan, like Medicare. Not this redefined nonsense of being able to select from a list of PRIVATE insurance plans...

[TheeHazelnut]

2. Maybe, but...

I just read about this over at the Daily Kos and they said that Wyden's amendment is necessary because if a public option is created without his amendment, people who get insurance from their employers won't be able to choose the public option, so there will be less pressure on insurance companies to lower their costs and compete with the public option.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/9/22/785361/-Ron-Wyden:-Public-Option-Doesnt-Go-FAR-Enough

[Postman]

3. What does "competition" mean if.....

you're exempt from anti-trust legislation - as the health insurance industry is along with Major League Baseball? They can collude on prices. How is that "competition"?

"I happen to think that choice, whether it's private sector choice or public sector choice, is the key to competition."....Ron Wyden (D)

Public Option means a government-run, Medicare like, option. Not choosing from a laundry list of private insurors..

[OregonBlue]

4. Wyden has indicated that he will not vote against a public option but only want to include

the option for everyone to be able to choose from all private plans. Right now the legislation is written so that those who don't have insurance would be able to choose a public option if it was presented but those who have coverage through their employers will not be able to change to any other option, even another private company if they don't like their coverage. Wyden's amendment only says that anyone who has private insurance who doesn't like their plan can go to the exchange and shop for another. While it does not address the public option, he has said all along that true competition, allowing everyone to buy any plan, would actually bring the cost down more than the public option.

I just don't know, I've always liked Wyden so I'll take him at face value for now and believe that he won't try to block a public option but I do think he's very tied to his own plan which uses private providers but opens up the whole country to competition between plans. We'll see. I'm not ready to write him off yet.