Public Option: Fail Safe for Private Health Insurance?

There is rumor that the public option may not be as straightforward as one might think. It may only trigger into effect for those of which private health insurance fails. This has numerous implications.

1. The cost of such a plan is cheaper than insuring millions of Americans, it goes to those who need it the most, but then who decides what is need? How do you prevent abuse from both client and private health insurance agency? No one wants to pay so wouldn’t people try to take advantage of a fail safe, trying to make the government pay for it as the first option?

2. What about those without health insurance now? Will they need to buy a “minimal” plan in order to qualify for the fail safe? Again, what makes anyone purchase more options and spend more if they are going to get something for near free if their insurance “fails”?

3, Businesses will sprout using agovernment fail-safe in order to turn profits. Agencies will try to create health insurance plans of their own, charging a small fee to claim the person has health coverage with no substantial benefits. Then when the medical care is needed, relying on the government.

This just goes to show how complex Healthcare Reform is. Any change is going to be so substantial that it will create opportunity for abuse. Topics need to be thoroughly discussed, but not to the point of boredom and entropy.