President Obama's message on Health Insurance choices is a simple one. In his letter dated June 2, 2009 to Senators Kennedy and Baucus, he wrote:
I strongly believe that Americans should have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest.
[Emphasis added.] If a Public Health Insurance Option can do all that, it is worth doing. As was reported about a compromise proposal suggested by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York: "The question, at a time of deep concern over health costs, is whether that proposal would compromise away the full potential of a public plan to suppress provider payments and control the growth of premiums." Kevin Sack, "State Coverage Model No Help For Uneasy Insurance Industry" p. 18, col. 1 (New York Times Nat'l ed., Sunday, June 7, 2009).
For press, pundit, and popular reaction, see, e.g., Ceci Connolly, "Kennedy Details Vision for Health Care/Government Subsidies Would Help Families; Insurance Firms' Profits Could Decline" (Washington Post.com, Sunday, June 7, 2009); "Obama Presses Case for Healthcare Overhaul" posted by Foon Rhee on Boston Globe's Political Intelligence Blog, Saturday, June 6, 2009; Wayne Muramatsu, Letter to the Editor, "Private Insurers Are Like Wolves Guarding the Henhouse" (Los Angeles Times Online, published Sunday, June 7, 2009).
For some summaries of what President Obama and others are doing, or planning to do, in this arena see, e.g., Lisa Wangsness, "Across US, Voters Hold Healthcare Talks/Grass-Roots Effort Aims to Get Bill OK'd" (Boston Globe Online, Sunday, June 7, 2009); Sheryl Gay Stolberg, "Obama to Forge a Greater Role on Health Care" p. 1, col. 6 (New York Times Nat'l ed., Sunday, June 7, 2009); Dan Eggen, "'Single-Payer' Supporters Challenge Democrats" (Washington Post.com, Saturday, June 6, 2009).
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