Left OfCenter

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A Fund-Raiser for the Public Option

Grassroots liberal activists have begun a fund-raising drive to support House members who pledge to vote against any health care legislation that lacks a public insurance option.

The effort, which began on Tuesday, has already raised more than $175,000, and organizers have increased their goal from $150,000 to $250,000. Jane Hamsher, founder of the liberal blog Firedoglake and one of the organizers, said donations accelerated after she appeared on Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC show earlier this week.

The drive springs from an earlier lobbying campaign to persuade House members to stand behind the public option. It began in late June, after the idea of a national health care cooperative began to emerge as a potential alternative to the public plan.

Ms. Hamsher said that 65 House members have vowed to support the public option.

“We said if you’re progressive, if you believe in the public plan, you have the power to stop a bill if it doesn’t have one,” Ms. Hamsher said. Democrats hold a 256 to 178 majority in the House.

Also this week, 60 House Democrats sent a letter to Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of health and human services, writing that “to take the public option off the table would be a grave error; passage in the House of Representatives depends upon inclusion of it.”

The letter noted Ms. Sebelius’s comment on a talk show last weekend that a public option is “not the essential element” for an health care overhaul. The White House has since said that it still supports a public option, but proponents like Ms. Hamsher are skeptical.

MYTH #2: A public plan option will force all Americans into a government-run health program.

THE FACTS: Individuals with insurance do not have to join the public option. As President Obama has said: "if you like what you have, you can keep it." Reform will create a health insurance exchange for the uninsured; this will allow individuals to compare prices and health plans to decide which plan (public or private) is right for them and their families. The choice is left up to the individual. The public plan option will benefit uninsured as well as insured Americans by increasing competition and choice in the marketplace. It will hold private insurers accountable, and will lower costs while ensuring affordable healthcare.

Lie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma!!!

The truth: These accusations—of "death panels" and forced euthanasia—are, of course, flatly untrue. As an article from the Associated Press puts it: "No 'death panel' in health care bill."¹ What's the real deal? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will and other issues facing older Americans.²

If you'd like to read the actual section of the legislation that spawned these outrageous claims (Section 1233 of H.R. 3200) for yourself, here it is. It's pretty boring stuff, which is why the accusations that it creates "death panels" is so absurd. But don't take our word for it, read it yourself.

Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan!!!

The truth: With reform, choices will increase, not decrease. Obama's reform plans will create a health insurance exchange, a one-stop shopping marketplace for affordable, high-quality insurance options.³ Included in the exchange is the public health insurance option—a nationwide plan with a broad network of providers—that will operate alongside private insurance companies, injecting competition into the market to drive quality up and costs down.⁴ If you're happy with your coverage and doctors, you can keep them.⁵ But the new public plan will expand choices to millions of businesses or individuals who choose to opt into it, including many who simply can't afford health care now.

Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing!!!

The truth: Health care reform will expand access to high-quality health insurance, and give individuals, families, and businesses more choices for coverage. Right now, big corporations decide whether to give you coverage, what doctors you get to see, and whether a particular procedure or medicine is covered—that is rationed care. And a big part of reform is to stop that.

Health care reform will do away with some of the most nefarious aspects of this rationing: discrimination for pre-existing conditions, insurers that cancel coverage when you get sick, gender discrimination, and lifetime and yearly limits on coverage.⁶ And outside of that, as noted above, reform will increase insurance options, not force anyone into a rationed situation.

Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens' Medicare benefits!!!

The truth: Health care reform plans will not reduce Medicare benefits.⁷ Reform includes savings from Medicare that are unrelated to patient care—in fact, the savings comes from cutting billions of dollars in overpayments to insurance companies and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.⁸

Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America!!!

I called Rep. Jeff Flake's office and left a message with his secretary and this was his response: 

Dear Aaron,

Thank you for contacting me about universal healthcare.

The rising cost of healthcare is truly a major problem. As you know, over 45 million Americans are either unable to acquire health insurance on their own or simply choose not to have coverage.

I believe that all Americans should have access to affordable healthcare, and the federal government can achieve this by making the market as open as possible and encouraging health insurance companies to offer a wide variety of plans that cover a wide variety of health conditions.  The key to meaningful reform is not more government intervention, but rather to allow the free market to control costs and improve quality through choice and competition.

For those truly unable to acquire health insurance, government programs like Medicaid and welfare are available to qualifying individuals.  Medicaid is a health insurance program jointly funded by both the states and the federal government.  The United States welfare program provides assistance to qualified low-income individuals and families.

Waste, fraud, and abuse are prevalent in government programs, and we owe it to all taxpayers to ensure that only those who truly need assistance are the ones receiving it.  Expanding the government's role in healthcare will not create access to affordable healthcare but, as we have seen in other countries that have nationalized their healthcare systems, will only create delays, rationing, and increased overall costs.  Instead, a free market system will lower costs, encourage innovation, and empower individuals.

I believe that Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are a successful example of the free market system encouraging individuals to obtain health insurance and control where their health care dollars are spent.  Millions of Americans are now taking advantage of HSAs, which allow pre-tax dollars to be used for health care expenditures.  I support the expansion of HSAs, so that more Americans will have the freedom to determine the direction of their health care dollars. 

Thank you again for contacting me.  Please do not hesitate to do so again in the future.  I also encourage you to visit my website, which may be found at http://flake.house.gov/.