Public option for health care needed

June 30, 2009 10:05 am

— We need a public option for health care. It’s the only way to get at the problem of the high cost of health care. Although insurance companies have taken a lot of the criticism for the cost of health care I think that criticism is misplaced. Just ask someone who does not have health insurance. Without health insurance the fees of doctors and hospitals are even higher than those charged to insurance companies.
The real problem with the high cost of health care lies with the charges and practices of doctors and hospitals. The administrative costs and profits of insurance companies have been estimated to make up 10 to 20 percent health care costs. Even if those costs were totally removed the cost of what Americans pay for health care would be vastly higher than other countries and with worse outcomes. Doctors and hospitals charge too much, prescribe to much and do too many procedures either as defensive medicine or to simply line their pockets.
A public option, and let’s face it, what we are really describing here is an expansion of Medicare, is what is needed. Medicare is not perfect, but its administration costs are low, it is non-profit, and there is no restriction on choosing your doctor. If you want additional coverage beyond what the public option would provide, supplemental coverage, just like with Medicare, could be available.
Without a public option there simply will be no way to reign in the costs of health care.
— Jeff Griffin
Goshen