This won't come as the slightest surprise to those versed in health care policy issues. But I fear it's only barely permeated the health care reform debate in the country, certainly in Washington. And that's this: the opposition to a so-called 'public option' comes almost entirely from insurance companies who have developed monopolies or near monopolies in particular geographic areas. And they don't want competition.
Note, I'm not saying more competition. I'm saying any competition at all. As Zack Roth explains in this new piece 94% of the health care insurance market is now under monopoly or near-monopoly conditions -- the official term of art is 'highly concentrated'. In other words, there's no mystery why insurance costs keep going up even as the suck quotient rises precipitously. Because in most areas there's little or no actual competition.
Read the rest by Josh Marshall at TPM.
The shenanigans of operators at the health insurance companies are enough to make you sick.
State employees in Louisiana have a public option for health insurance. Our secondary insurer, after Medicare, is the state, thus Grandpère and I are covered entirely by public options, and we are pleased with our coverage.
Preach it, Grand'mère!
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