Today, on CNN, while explaining the public option, Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett stated:
The president has spoken out throughout this process about the importance of the public option. But let's take a step back and make sure everybody understands what it is. The vast majority of American people, say, over 165 million, have insurance. So, what the public option is there is to provide those who don't have it to participate in the exchange which will make it more affordable for them so they're not having to pay two and three times more than people who receive insurance through their employers, so that those people have the advantage of having affordable health care.Let's hope the President follow through with his commitment to the public option.
And we think that the public option is a way of providing competition in the system. Now, there are many states, a state such as Maine, for example, or Alabama that have very few insurance carriers. Well, what do you have when you have so few options? Prices go up. And so, if you have a public option that's available in the exchange, you'll have some competition, and prices will come down. And for those who don't have insurance, the president is very concerned that we are able to provide them with affordable health care insurance.
Also, Jarrett is right about Maine. There aren't a lot of insurance companies in Maine. And, prices have gone up. One wonders if Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe get that. I did a little research on the Senators from Maine, both of them have had publicly funded health care for most of their adult lives. Olympia has been in the federal system since 1978 when she was elected to Congress. But even prior to that, she served in the state legislature and was a staffer for a Congressman. Collins was a Hill staffer for twelve years, spent several years working for the State of Maine and the federal government before she was elected in 1996. For both Senators, health insurance has always been available -- and funded by taxpayers.
They need to think about helping Mainers, not insurance companies, not Mitch McConnell, not FOX News. Snowe is one of the "Gang of Six." Today on MSNBC, Snowe said she's opposed to the public option. And, Collins doesn't support it right now either. They're both supporting the "trigger" gimmick. Robert Reich explains why it's a bad idea.
Health insurance costs in Maine are very expensive for the self-employed -- and there aren't a lot of options. I got this breakdown from a reader in Maine. It's hard enough to be self-employed in DC, but it's a bitch in Maine:
Last year, as a self-employed consultant, I grossed just under $60,000. But, my health care expenses, including insurance, totaled almost $9,200.I keep going back to what Barack Obama said on the conference call with bloggers. The public option is designed for small businesses and the self-employed. Republicans always talk about helping small business owners, but rarely do. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins love all the attention they get as the only somewhat moderate Republicans left. But, if they cared about Mainers, they'd support the public option.
My monthly premium for 2008 was $343.48 per month. It's gone up to $385.36 as of July 1, 2009. That plan has a $5000 deductible. The price includes the Preventative Care Rider ($20.41 per month) which covers the cost of my annual physical as follows: annual exams; max benefit is $100 per exam and $100 for x-ray/lab for each covered visit; mammography screening, screening pap when test recommended=2 0by a physician, prostate specific antigen test, flu vaccines.
Basically, it is catastrophic coverage. I pay everything up to $5000, with the added “benefit” of the insurance company negotiating my fees. (Not sure how they calculate these items – but would guess that doctor’s charge a higher fee knowing it is going to be negotiated down.) With this plan you’re meant to have $5000 set aside “just in case.” In this economy, it simply isn’t realistic.
If I wanted "real" insurance, not just catastrophic, the cost for HMO Basic would be 1217.60 per month – here is the link to Anthem's rate quote.
My prescription costs were low last year because I stopped taking my Advair (too expensive at $146.47). But, my doctor insisted I get back on it. Now, I purchase it through canadapharmacy.com for $259.00 for a 3-month supply. A “savings” of $721 per year. Of course, the $1036 I do pay does not count toward my deductible because I'm getting it cheaper through Canada and not my insurer.
Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins must know we need competition in Maine. We won't get that from the insurance company here. In Maine, we don't need a "trigger." We need help.
