Regarding Point 1, If the proposed republican plan were to go through you wouldn't get to keep your current insurance at all, because with the state lines removed companies would standardize the plans they offer across the nation, eliminating the state specific one that you are using.

2.b. Would like a source for this claim. Government run utilities are allowed to compete in markets that also have private utilities in several states. Also, medicare competes with existing insurance coverage for those eligible. Not a single person in congress was willing to vote down medicare and it operates on the same principle as a public option with the same competitive advantages.

Regarding 3, Could you quote the specific part of the bill dealing with this from the actual document?

Regarding 4, No one has claimed the government doesn't want additional regulation on the health insurance industry, the exchange is a way of standardizing it. How is this any different than requiring banks to have shares of the national bank?

Regarding 5, It was tried with less reporting and less regulation and look at the mess that caused, if reporting is needed to ensure standards are met I don't see why that is a flaw of the current bill.

Quote Originally Posted by DuncanONeil View Post
You are correct. The plans offered to federal employees are from the same companies that the private sector uses.
Some people like to compare health insurance to auto insurance, but in auto insurance people make a choice to pay less insurance for a larger deductible. Yet in health insurance people want the lesser cost without the corresponding increase in out of pocket expense.

Now I can't remember everything in the health bills but i have a few specifics that I think are enough to prove the value, perhaps I should say lack of value, of the bills
1. You get to keep you current health care.
a. True for five years.
b. Then all providers must be in the "exchange"
2. Although not spoken of anymore, the "public option" is wrong on two counts at least
a. Such a plan would have several unfair advantages.
b. Government in direct competition with private companies in the US is against the law.
3. The bills require the Government to increase the time between pregnancies.
a. How can that be done?
b. What happens to a person that does not comply?
c. What happens when they change the time limit? No input from Congress would be required.
4. The claim that there is not attempt to take over this industry is suspect.
a. All qualified providers of insurance are required to be in the exchange. b. All providers in the exchange are required to be under contract to the Government.
c. The Government determines what must be covered.
d. The Government determines what can be charged for the services covered.
5. In addition there is section after section that levies additional reporting requirements on all aspects of the health process.

And this is just a small portion of the bills.