Is insurance compulsory under the proposed Democratic health care plan?

[derby378]

This has been one of my biggest complaints with attempts to overhaul health care. I understand we're looking at a halfway-decent public option, but can someone really be fined or jailed if they don't obtain helath insurance?

I've been really swamped at work and fighting a bug of my own, so any insights would be greatly appreciated.

[MNDemNY]

1. Coverage MUST be compulsory , so the young and healthy do not opt-out.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. but the only way to make that work is set a VERY low bar for government

assistance - you can't MAKE people pay what they don't have. There's got to be a graduated scale of need, not a jump from medicare to mandated $500/mo insurance payment to private insurers.

When I was young and healthy I didn't have insurance - I also didn't have money for rent, often as not.

Really, the ONE solution is that of which we must not speak - GOVERNMENT PROVIDED TAX FUNDED SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE.

Fuck the insurance companies.

[derby378]

3. Well said - I think one of my concerns is that the public option could be sabotaged

If enough roadblocks are put up to discourage people from seeking the public option, they could be herded into one of the plans offered by Big Insurance, and our nation's heath care system could wind up in worse shape than it was before Obama was sworn in.

[MNDemNY]

4. I agree wholeheartedly.

But "opting-out" can not be allowed.

[MNDemNY]

5. I agree wholeheartedly.

But "opting-out" can not be allowed.

[MadHound]

6. Yep, that's the deal,

The other shoe that could very well drop is that the public option will be taken out, and then all this health care "reform" would do is provide a captive market for the insurance industry, and we'll all see our insurance and health care bills really go sky high.

[derby378]

7. Which would quickly turn me into an opponent of "health care reform"

No public option, no health care bill. It's honestly just that simple.