Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeRedskin
I think that happened sometime over the summer when Obama essentially guarranteed the passage of a health care bill with the public option. He has consistently talked about cost containment and, initially, I was encouraged by his assertion that sustainability was important. My initial hope was snuffed when he touted the empty pledge from HC actors that they would cut costs as a real step towards sustainability. Quite frankly, other than "tax the wealthy, everybody must buy insurance", I have not seen any real steps towards cost containment from Obama or anyone else.
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I think they're "betting" on cost containment happening as opposed to actually producing hardcore numbers to prove it. I mean numbers have been produced, obviously, but from what I've seen certain variables have to fall into place almost perfectly over a period of time for costs to be driven down. In fact, premiums are still likely to rise either way.
A robust public option or a single payer system, which is simply too expensive and cumbersome to implement, in my opinion, was the best shot. Pros and cons to both, but it looks like they are getting further and further away from either as this drags out.
More than likely, if this bill passes, the cost issue will be revisted down the road. Maybe under Obama's presidency, maybe not.