The Triangle

Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: Ed-Op

Media Credit: Nancy Stone Chicago Tribune/MCT Campus

President Obama's actions thus far as a freshman president have not been seamless with his behemoth campaign promises. However, something has happened in the Senate that has gained nationwide attention. Originally there were five health care bills under scrutiny in Congress, including a House bill with a public option. The debate over what type of public option plan should be offered-between an all-out government insurance plan or some kind of governmentally run non-profit option-has taken center stage. But even this was uncertain, as only two weeks ago Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was concerned about a health care bill even containing a public option. Regardless, the Democrats' desire to press for a government-run insurance program is finally well on its way to fruition.

Earlier this week, Reid announced that the health-care legislation that will appear before the Senate floor in a few weeks will include a public option. Cleverly, the bill gives states the right to opt-out of a public plan by 2014. The Democratic Senators say they are certain of attaining 60 votes to pass the bill, however nothing is set in stone yet.

This bill has obviously irritated some people. Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine was a key Republican and the lone wolf of her party to vote for health care reform. However, she expressed her distaste toward Reid's decision because "she wouldn't support a public option with a state 'opt-out' provision, though she supported a health care bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee," according to Patrick Yoest of The Wall Street Journal. In a time when Republican approval is crucial to pass this bill, Reid said he has no choice but to move forward with this bill with or without their allegiance.

Another angry arena of men and women who have been skirmishing against a public option are the insurance companies, whose jobs are on the line. President and CEO of the America's Health Insurance Plans group, Karen Ignagni, said in a statement that "a new government-run plan would underpay doctors and hospitals rather than driving real reforms."

Although this is a good argument, it seems that the majority of this country wants such a plan; therefore companies like Aetna, Humana, Cigna and United Health Group (insurers in AHIP) will most undoubtedly suffer if this does go through, taking effect July 1, 2013. They might as well be driven out of the market.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools