Is the public option going to be Medicare?

[BattyDem]

What I mean is, would they be expanding Medicare by allowing people under 65 to choose it has their health care plan, or would it be a new, as yet unnamed plan?

The reason why I'm asking ...
I heard that the current bill does not require participation by doctors, hospitals, etc. Of course, if the public option was simply an expansion of Medicare, then presumably, providers who currently accept Medicare would continue to do so. However, if the public option is a new plan, what would prevent all of the insurance companies from saying, "If you accept the public option, you cannot participate in our plan." Obviously, no provider would want to have the public option plan as their only source of patients and income, so that would pretty much kill the plan before it even gets off the ground.

I don't know all the "ins and outs" of the insurance game, so if I'm totally wrong (and I hope I am), please enlighten me. :-)

On edit: I know the public option isn't even a done deal, yet ... I'm just being optimistic and trying to think ahead. :-)

[stray cat]

1. it sounds like they want to use it to cover those who can't pay - but states won't get money to pay

so states will have to make other cuts or raise taxes because there isn't going to be a paid mandate for states just a mandate.

[WePurrsevere]

2. Expending Medicare would be a good idea but I'm not wild about the...

idea of them not requiring participation since I would think that this might result in seniors and the disabled, who are currently on Medicare, losing even more medical care. It's become increasingly difficult to find a decent doctor if you're on Medicare as it is.

Personally I tend to think they should either extend what's covered under Medicare to cover at least dental and preferably optical (both of which are very important to ones overall health) or extend Medicaid (under which dental, etc is covered) and require participation in part for the above reason.

Mind you even better yet would be to require that our Fed reps get the same health insurance we peons do. As good or bad as we get.. they get.:evilgrin:

[madrchsod]

4. my parents had no problems with medicare

they were never turned down for any treatment or doctors. canada and the euro countries have no problems with their "medicare" programs.the doctors were paid faster than what mine have been. if one is on medicare your hospital and doctor bills are not turned over to collection.

we pay 3600 a year for two people,1000 deductible per year,and we pay 20% of the total. that comes to 5600 a year and we have no idea what her employer`s contribution is. so we pay 5600 a year plus 20%. we are filing bankruptcy in august over my medical bills

[WePurrsevere]

5. Unfortunately that's not been our experience. Maybe it's different from place to place, etc.

:shrug:

[madrchsod]

3. no....that`s why the current plan will fall short...