Just what is a public option?

A public option is a government health insurance program much like Medicare but which would be open to anyone who cares to opt into the it.  Nobody would be required to choose the public option over private health insurance.

Why do we need a public option?

“In many states small insurers compete against one another in the individual market to insure only low-risk, healthy individuals. They refuse to insure Americans with pre-existing conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, cancer, or diabetes and those who have ever taken certain prescription drugs—and they create barriers to needed care for those who are insured.

In at least 21 states, one carrier controls more than half the market. More than half of the market is controlled by two carriers in at least 39 states. In 2007, a survey conducted by the American Medical Association found that in more than 95 percent of insurance markets, a single
commercial carrier controlled at least 30 percent of the insurance market. “¹

So, the greatest need for a public option is due to lack of competition.  Profit driven health insurance has one goal and that is to produce a larger profit yearly for the stockholders and consumers are the one’s who lose.  Insurance company CEO’s receive huge salaries while insurance companies routinely deny benefits to increase their profit margin.  The video below sheds more light on the problem of CEO’s salaries and denied benefits:

Is it any wonder that insurance companies have spent millions to fight health care reform?  Maybe you don’t feel this is a problem for you but what if it became personal…..what if it was your loved one denied benefits?

Obama gets boost from American Medical Association

Posted: September 9th, 2009 09:29 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Just hours before President Obama speaks out on health care reform in front of a joint session of Congress, the president has secured an important boost.

The American Medical Association, in an “Open Letter to President Obama and Members of Congress,” signed by the group’s president, is urging Congress to reach a deal on health care reform

“On behalf of America’s physicians and their patients, we strongly urge you to reach agreement this year on health system reforms,” says the AMA President, Doctor J. James Rohback.

On its website, the AMA describes itself as the largest medical association of physicians in the nation, representing physicians from every state work together to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.

September 8, 2009

Open Letter to President Obama and Members of Congress

As our nation’s elected leaders, you have an historic opportunity to improve the health and well-being of the American public.

On behalf of America’s physicians and their patients, we strongly urge you to reach agreement this year on health system reforms that include the following seven critical elements:

• Provide health insurance coverage for all Americans
• Enact insurance market reforms that expand choice of affordable coverage and eliminate denials for pre-existing conditions
• Assure that health care decisions are made by patients and their physicians, not by insurance companies or government officials
• Provide investments and incentives for quality improvement, prevention and wellness initiatives
• Repeal the Medicare physician payment formula that will trigger steep cuts and threaten seniors’ access to care
• Implement medical liability reforms to reduce the cost of defensive medicine Streamline and standardize insurance claims processing requirements to eliminate unnecessary costs and administrative burdens

The challenges in our health care system are many and complex.Enactment of the above policies will create the foundation for a stronger, better performing health care system, improve access to affordable, high-quality care and reduce unnecessary costs. Further, those who are currently insured, including Medicare patients, and those who are uninsured will all benefit from greater security and stability.

The American Medical Association and our individual members are working hard to improve health care delivery and quality through a broad range of initiatives to promote best practices and reduce unnecessary costs.

We reaffirm our commitment to work with each of you to adopt and implement health system reforms that will benefit all Americans.

Sincerely

J. James Rohack MD

SOURCE

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