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The Non-public Public Option

Senate Majority leader Reid (D- Nevada) announced that a deal had been reached between liberal and “conservative” Democrats in regards to the public option in the senate version of the health care bill.  Details are sketchy, but the plan will supposedly replace the government run public insurance option with a non-profit plane that will be overseen by the government.  According to the LA Times,

Under the compromise developed by a group of conservative and liberal Democrats, the Senate legislation would no longer include a new government-run insurance program, or “public option,” for Americans who do not get coverage through their employers.

Instead, the government would essentially contract with a nonprofit insurer to provide a nationwide plan that would serve as the public option, according to officials briefed on the discussions.

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The government would oversee the nonprofit plan, ensuring that it met basic standards for quality and affordability. That provision was designed to satisfy demands from many on the left that the government provide consumers with an alternative to coverage offered by for-profit insurers.

The compromise would also create a mechanism for triggering the creation of a more traditional government-run plan like the one now in the bill, if the nonprofit option does not materialize.

Doesn’t this sound like Sallie Mae and Freddie Mac all over again?  Let’s see, a non-profit entity set up by the government and overseen by the government.  Yep, seems pretty similar, and we all know how well Sallie and Freddie have been managed!  Why do politicians continue to push for the same kind of programs that have failed in the past?

I think it’s safe to say that this non-profit quasi public option would probably become a full blown government run public option in the near future.  I think most on the far left know this.  That’s why liberals aren’t up in arms about the public option being watered down.  First of all, this new public option will include a “trigger” that will allow for the creation of a government run public option if the non-profit  plan doesn’t meet certain criteria.  I’m confident the liberals in Congress will find a way to ensure that the trigger is met so they can have their government controlled health care.  Secondly, if the trigger is not met, how long will this non-profit entity be able to last without a large government bailout and eventually a government takeover?  How will it possibly be able to make enough money to survive?  Why should we believe it won’t go down the same path as Freddie Mac and Sallie Mae?

Related posts:

1. The White House is Backing Away From the Public Option in Health Care Reform. Victory for Conservatives?
2. Pelosi’s Plan to Pass Health Care Reform
3. The Immoral and Evil Insurance Companies
4. Obama’s Health Care Plan Provides No Money for Abortions

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