12/8/09: TWD's Agenda For The Day: Mixed Feelings On The Public Option, Again, On Life Support For Medicaid Expansion

So many times throughout the year, the "death of the public option" phrase has been royally debunked and pushed back vociferously. Activists and the American people have refused to let true meaningful reform for the current broken system we have wither away in front of their eyes.

The insurance companies have for too long had the power and the freedom to continue their immoral behavior of pushing up premiums to extraordinary highs and racking in profits off the back of their unaffordable coverage. Those painful realities have lead to a majority of the nation to believe that a government insurance option will be a needed alternative to turning around a real stain on our nation's psyche.

Now once again, that government insurance option. which has been weakened the moment Medicare rates became negotiable in the House, is in serious jeopardy of being eliminated from us all.

The new plan of Medicare expansion is looking to be the replacement for any progressive happiness in the final version of the bill. Howard Dean is the man who floated this idea to Chuck Schumer a few weeks back. And if you look at what Dean said, this is nothing short of a good idea, highlighting that it needs to be implemented now for all Americans, unemployed or employed with current coverage:

I’ve been a long-time strong supporter of opening up the Medicare system to any American who wants to enroll in it, and I continue to believe that Medicare is a proven success story that delivers quality care efficiently. Allowing Americans under 65 to enroll in this program would generate the kind of competition that lowers costs and improves the delivery of care within the private sector. In order to be effective, however, this option must be available to Americans from day one and should be offered as an option within the exchanges, once they become operational.

The hurdle through facing this is the fact that the forces that be will try to halt it from being implemented now. They know full well that if Medicare expansion happens now, it augments the possibility that in a slight period of time (much shorter than what the current version of the public options would do) government insurance would be picked by those under 55, under 45, and so on, and on, and on.

The other hurdle is the fact that even if that wish is granted, with full coverage for those from 55-65 starting now for them, is the under 55 crowd. They are almost virtually stuck in the same situation they are now, with unaffordable premiums still on their necks right now. They need reform NOW, just like someone who is 55 struggling.

The optics of this, even if the hopes of Dean and respected health care wonk Jon Cohn become reality, have the good side but also a bad side.

Young people (and early middle aged folks) who can't afford skyrocketing coverage if they become ill are potentially thrown under the bus again or advised to take a back seat to their elders until they get equal focus. And that is just the best case scenario as it stands.

Key note: A key progressive in the House (the forgotten chamber once again), Rep. Raul Grijalva, stated that the Medicare expansion plan is not enough at all.

“We need a public option, period,” Grijalva said. “I cannot support a system that forces Americans to buy private insurance and then allows those companies to collect government subsidies without competition. Our final health care bill should be based on policy outcomes and the needs of consumers, and the direction the Senate is taking does not give me confidence.”

Still a long way to go in all of this ladies and gentlemen.