Talking point re public option? What's to stop your employer from dropping your insurance now?

[Orangepeel]

I've heard opponents of the public option say that Obama's statement that if you like your current insurance you can keep your insurance is not true because companies that offer insurance will switch to the (presumably not as good) public option as soon as it is available.

Now, maybe some states require large companies to provide health insurance, but if not, I don't know what opponents think stops their employer from dropping their coverage alltogether when the costs keep getting higher.

From the WSJ

WASHINGTON -- The Census Bureau reports that the number of people lacking health insurance rose to 46.3 million in 2008.

That's up from 45.7 million in 2007, due to a continuing erosion of employer-provided insurance. Still, the level remained just below the peak of 47 million who were uninsured in 2006, because of the growth of government insurance programs such as Medicaid for the poor.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125259099642699581.html?mod=djemalertNEWS

[sharp_stick]

1. The only thing stopping them now is competition

I am fortunate enough to have very good insurance because I work in an industry that has to offer it to keep us around. I live under no illusions though. If the tools in the C-suites thought they could get away with it they'd drop it in a heartbeat to save a few bucks. The only reason they don't is that they would lose everyone that gives them a competitive edge.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Any employer can stop offering employee insurance as a benefit at any time. And don't get me

started on what they can do to their retirees!

[emulatorloo]

3. Just warning you now, logic or rationality does not phase that crowd. I have been round and round

with somebody like that on a message board, they mostly want to use this so they can say "Obama is a Liar".

Never mind that anybody with common sense understands your employer can change your plan anytime it wants now.

If you can get them to admit that, they will say "yes, but that just proves Obama is being dishonest."

[IdaBriggs]

4. But everything is better if business does it!

:sarcasm: