Meredith

I truly do appreciate your feedback and hope that you check back in later this week for Part II so I can hear your feedback on some of the suggestions floating around on potential alternatives!

Meredith

For example, how about listing a Pro as being that American’s will have the security of having healthcare. No longer will people have to be financially ruined if they get sick – whether they have insurance or not. For example – my co-worker who got breast cancer last year wouldn’t be paying $12,000 for certain treatments (that are widely available around the world) and have to file for bankruptcy after moving in with her parents. And she has insurance. One might say this is a ‘Pro.’

Also – for the ‘Cons’ you list ‘Socialism.’ Is this really an objective analysis if you’re coming out of the gate and calling this Socialism? How is this Socialism any more than MediCare or Veteran’s Benefits or Unemployment Benefits? These things have been around since the 40’s and no one would suggest that the U.S. has had anything but a vibrant and thriving Capitalist economy. Implementing ‘social’ programs does not equate to ‘Socialism.’

On competition. There is only a faux competitive environment today. There is competition for initial price options from insurance carriers but after that, all the true costs of healthcare are hidden because all we see are the co-pays. What’s going on behind them is price fixing and manipulation. Hence, the problem of skyrocketing healthcare costs. Further, the government option is just that – an option. The government provides options in many industries and does not put companies in these industries out of business. It’s simply an alternative.

Finally, I think you’ve completely misinterpreted the information regarding businesses. The costs they’re talking about that are making U.S. businesses less competitive are the costs from the current system. Having a public option will mean that companies no longer solely bare the burden of providing healthcare to their employees. This burden keeps start ups from hiring employees. It also puts us at a disadvantage internationally because very other industrialized country provides healthcare to their citizens. Their business do not have this cost. Forcing these costs on U.S. businesses is what’s causing our inability to compete. A government run healthcare program will decrease, if not eliminate the burden of healthcare costs on U.S. employers, not increase them.

To be clear, I’m no fan of the government. However, the private insurance companies have failed to deliver a workable solution to healthcare coverage. I think it’s hard for anyone to disagree with that. Their failure is what has made it necessary for the government to deliver an alternative.