American Morning’s Tuesday audience continued to express concern over health care reform with viewers remaining confused as to why President Obama and his administration apparently stepped back from supporting a public insurance option over the weekend.
- Susan: Those conservative democrats need to get on board and vote for the public option. It appears to me they are trying to put a damper on this thing. OBAMA needs to twist some arms. This is no plaything. It has to be a public option or all people will not be covered. This is something Obama must pass.
- Donna: Amazing, now the Union and Acorn members are out protesting, they are not considered a Mob or organized group even though they have their professionally made Obama signs; this isn’t about dems, reps or indps, it is about a government take over plan that can not get Medicare, Medicaid and SS right;' fix those programs first. Doing the same thing over again, which doesn’t work, is crazy
- Marlena: Although the stock market dropped considerably yesterday, all health insurance companies spiked up because there was talk of dropping the public option. Those who say they support the insurance companies obviously have not needed to use their policy. If they had, they would find out their deductible is more than they thought and the coverage was less.
- Elvira: why aren’t members of congress showing their support of house health reform by signing up to single payer and giving up health coverage taxpayers grant them?
are federal employees exempt? - Anna: The ideal solution to health care reform would be, of course, a single-payer system as in Canada and France - Medicare for all. However this is not possible here. Therefore there must be NO backing down on the public option. In not pushing for a single-payer system, the Democrats are already compromising on the issue. They should therefore insist on the public option. To drop it in favor of "cooperatives" is to surrender to the insurance companies, interested only in ensuring their profits. Coops are a weak solution, not carrying the weight of a government program.
- Susan: I know about co-op plans because I have one. Listen, everyone can't afford even a co-op plan. This will not work. Some will be able to afford it some won't. You have to pay so much yourself. A lot of people can’t even afford to do this. What will they do then? You’re going to have to have a mixture if you’re going to do this of a public plan and co-op if they are going to go this way. Anyway you go you will have to have a public plan along with it in my opinion..
- Craig: I am member of Group Health Coop in Washington. I am small business owner who offers insurance to employees. We have had to cut back benefits due to a 10 percent increase in premiums this year. We comparison shopped different companies and Group Health was comparably priced with other insurance companies. not any cheaper. One other point I have never heard discussed is that as an employer, I select health coverage that suits my needs and force it on my employees even if it is inadequate for them. All plans should be available to all and all employers should be required to provide a minimum (not substandard) level of coverage with the employees able to contribute more for a better plan. Legislation should set the minimum (not substandard) requirements for coverage.
- Jim: You did a "truth" report about eye degeneration this morning and it was nice to say you didn't find anything in the health bills about it. I bet it never entered anyone’s mind to ask the legislative staff that are writing the bills for the Congress and Senate if this condition is going to be covered. Or maybe see if it’s covered under the government programs under Medicare or Medicaid. Wow what a novel question to provide truth to the American citizens.
- Robert: Why don't we call it Medicare for All? Then, the public would have a better understanding of the concept. The conservatives say they don't want government controlled health insurance. Guess what? We have had government controlled health insurance since 1966, and it is called Medicare. It has worked great, and the machinery to administer it is already in place.
- Ben: Until we see President Obama and Congress willing to put THEIR families in the health plan they want us in...... it has no credibility with the average American with common sense.
Would you support health care reform without a government-backed public option? Tell us your thoughts.