New Republican Healthcare Plan Approves of Public Option!

Given the state of healthcare in America, if you don’t agree with some form of public option than you either haven’t had a major medical problem, or you’re lucky (i.e. richest 1%, well-connected, etc.).

Though it has mostly been Obama and the Dems pushing for the public option plan which would ensure that millions of Americans would received healthcare regardless of their past medical problems, it seems the GOP is jumping on-board with their own plan which also includes a public option.

The Republican plan would offer tax deductions and tax credits to help make the purchase of health insurance more affordable for individuals. It would provide grants to states to help set up high-risk pools for people with medical problems who are denied coverage by commercial insurers.

Emphasis was added, and for an important reason.  In the current medical climate you are either being covered because nothing is wrong yet, or you will be dropped later when something does go horribly wrong.  With the GOPs plan, insurance companies would actually be given further reason to drop you from their coverage.  Note: you wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the public option until private insurers dropped you.  Then, you could get covered under a public healthcare system.  These “high-risk pools for people with medical problems” are what insurance companies are actually suppose to be.  The idea is that since we all pay our fee, when any of us need it, we get help.  The current system though is that we all pay, and when you need it you’re kicked out.  That’s where all the profit comes from.

So, Republicans agree that their needs to be a “pool” for “people with medical problems.” Doesn’t that include all of us, sooner or later? Isn’t this complete support for a public option?  One difference is that they are saying that each state should provide that coverage for those within the “pool” with the help of “grants’ from the federal government.  Another, is that private insurers get to choose who they want to cover first, and then leave Americans that actually need healthcare to the state.  Why do we need to cushion the private insurers’ pockets? Besides money being filtered through states first, and people not getting to choose when they join the public healthcare system but having commercial insurers decide for them, how is this any different from having a public option?

Is keeping commercial insurers’ profit margins up the only argument against public healthcare?  Because all the rest have been put to rest.  Yes.  All of the other excuses have been put to rest.  Give me one good reason why it shouldn’t happen.