Health Care Bills Don't Offer Real Choice

Legislation in Congress seem to settle for status quo

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 26, 2009 1:22 PM CDT

(Newser) – Health insurance firms are essentially monopolies because employers, not individuals, choose which plans to offer. This freedom from competitive forces has allowed insurance to become flaky and opaque—and the reform currently being debated in Washington would do little about it, writes David Leonhardt for the New York Times. Even if a public option were to be created, people with employer-based insurance would be ineligible.

Senators Ron Wyden and Robert Bennett proposed a voucher system in 2007 that has come closest to giving people real choice, but it went nowhere. Support for the employer-based system is strong because taxes and wage deductions hide its true costs from employees, while politicians worry about the dangers of giving ordinary folks “too much” choice. But if the insurance companies were doing a good job, employees would probably stick with their existing plan. And if not, they’d deserve their fate.

[Images (2)]

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Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is welcomed by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, June 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden makes remarks during an interview in Portland, Ore., Monday, Sept. 17, 2007. His health care proposal has gotten little widespread support among senators. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

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Real choice is not part of the bills moving through the Democratic-led Congress. - David Leonhardt, New York Times

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

Derni

Aug 27, 2009 12:13 PM CDT

correct-unless the plan addresses notonly what insurer options you have but also how much and what coverage you get and whether that is employer determined etc than the plan means little except some uninsured people will get insured

Snowleopard

Aug 27, 2009 5:17 AM CDT

We need more price transparency in the healthcare market. That means moving away from the employer based system. While I do believe that we should subsidize medical care for the poorest americans, the single-payer approach won't significantly drive down costs.

Snowleopard

Aug 27, 2009 5:14 AM CDT

Thinker: This has nothing to do with the article. If you took the time to read the article, you'd see that it was promoting a bipartisan approach to healthcare (with republican supporters) that would use the free market to drive down costs and to expand coverage. Instead, people just stick to their old "the other party is evil" rhetoric, instead of looking for real solutions.

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Politics • Health

health insurance • Senate • insurance • health insurance premiums • health care reform • Bob Bennett • Ron Wyden • vouchers • health insurance industry

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Health Care Bills Don't Offer Real Choice