The White House has released President Obama's final health care proposal that (I assume) he will submit during Thursday's bipartisan summit at Blair House. As you can see, the plan includes a public option
to provide the uninsured who can’t find affordable coverage with a real choice.
That's good, both from a public policy and a political standpoint. And we've seen reports that Senate Democrats are prepared to pass a health care bill with a public option under reconciliation.
But...but...what if this still doesn't get enough support either in the House or Senate?
In two previous diaries, I offered possible solutions to the stalemate over the public option. After further thought, I think the ideas from both diaries could be combined into one comprehensive program.
I call the (hypothetical) program CoverUS. This publicly-chartered, privately-run agency would contain two tiers: the first tier would offer coverage for recepients of both Medicaid and S-CHIP, plus a national "high-risk" pool for people with preexisting conditions (as called for under the Obama plan). This tier would be funded by the combined Medicaid and S-CHIP funding, plus low-cost premiums paid for by those "high-risk" clients. A small tax on fast food restaurants, as well as purchases of soda and snack foods (potato chips, candy and other processed sweets)would also fund this first CoverUS tier.
Under the second CoverUS tier, a handful of for-profit, national or multi-state plans would contract with the program and offer low-cost coverage through the Exchange to individuals, families, and small businesses who are eligible to participate. This tier would be structured similar to FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, which I touched on in my second diary. This would offer individuals and families portability (which conservatives want), while providing real competition to private health insurers (a key goal of progressives).
As I spelled out in my previous diaries, the CoverUS program would be administered by HHS's Health Resources and Services Administration, with the participating insurers in the second tier contribute a portion of their profits to a fund to support a non-profit health care provider system, with HRSA's Community Health Center program as the linchpin.
I realize many here on Daily Kos, as well as most of the liberal/progressive blogosphere, are strongly in favor of the public option. I am as well. My goal here was to add to the Senate compromise announced in December, and crafting a creative solution to the quandry.