The available evidence does not indicate that a public plan modeledon Medicare could provide health care comparable to that offered byexisting private plans, let alone at a lower cost. Contrary toproponents' claims, a public plan could not achieve cost savings orsubstantially reduce the number of uninsured without substantiallyreducing the quality and access to health care that Americanscurrently enjoy.
The available evidence does not indicate that a public plan modeledon Medicare could provide health care comparable to that offered by existing private plans, let alone at a lower cost. Contrary toproponents' claims, a public plan could not achieve cost savings orsubstantially reduce the number of uninsured without substantiallyreducing the quality and access to health care that Americanscurrently enjoy.
Congress will soon vote on massive health care legislation and on the amount of power the federal government will have over the entire U.S. health care sector. Many economists, politicians, and American citizens want to know: How many people could lose their current health insurance and end up on the so-called public option, a new government-run health plan? The numbers being tossed around are as dizzying as the array of health care bills.
A dozen organizations demanded Friday that Quebec pass a law to impose patient ratios in health care, ensuring that staff aren t given too many people to care for.