Questions re The Public Option

[abluelady]

1. How will the public option cover the poor, uninsured. Will you be able to apply like Medicaid?
2. If you lose your job, how do you keep your employer's insurance without having an income?
3. Can you apply for the public option if you're employed and don't like your employer's insurance?

I have been googling all day trying to find the answers to these question! Thanks in advance.

[stuball111]

1. Depends on what you call "public option"

If it's Canada/Europe Universal single payer style, everyone is covered, for small premiums or non at all, depending on the sate. As for the current proposal, (1)you would be forced to buy insurance, just like for your car,(2) you're screwed, and (3) yes, but it's still through an insurance company, so,,, you're still screwed.

[abluelady]

2. Your Answer Was What I Expected

Personally, I believe in a single payer system since I thought the public option Obama is talking about doesn't really help the working poor and the unemployed.

[pinb1212]

4. Depends on what bill actually passes

At this point in time no one knows the details. Until a bill passes both the house and senate and then goes to conference we're all just guessing. It's hard for me to support a plan, that today, doesn't exist.

[Eric J in MN]

3. I'll answer 1 and 3.

The bill which emerges from the House will probably have these features:

Subsidies to buy insurance for people at poverty level or up to 4x poverty level (the poverty level for one individual is about $10,000.)

People can use those subsidies to buy private insurance or the public option.

If you're employed and don't like your employer's insurance, you're stuck.

(The Senate may do things differently.)

[subterranean]

5. The answers, based on my understanding

1. Subsidies will be available to cover part or all of the premiums for people with low incomes. How that would work I'm not sure.
2. Employers would choose a plan from a national exchange of plans. Because the plan would not be exclusive to your employer, it would still be available to you if you lose your job.
3. From what I've heard, the current bill would prohibit that.

[Eric J in MN]

6. If an employer has 25+ employees, then it can't use the exchange unless...

...the employer gets special permission, under the House bill so far.