I just read an interesting postscript to Trudy Liebermans series on health care lessons from Massachusetts. Evidently, the progressives there are rebelling against the state mandated underinsurance which is losing a lot of money because of skyrocketing prices, declining abilities to pay premiums, and price-fixing handshake agreements between large providers. (Possibly an omen of what's ahead for any free market public "option".)
"Cheney reported that one-quarter of the Massachusetts legislature has signed on to a proposal to "scrap the state’s landmark health care system." Proponents are mostly liberals, but groups such as the League of Women Voters and the National Association of Social Workers have voiced support. Their proposal would set up a health care trust that would reimburse providers, invest in health care facilities, streamline the bureaucracy, and promote incentives for quality care."
"All residents and non-residents working twenty hours a week in the state would be eligible for care. Sponsors say that the trust would be funded by a dedicated tax on employers, workers, and citizens that would replace the money currently spent on insurance premiums.
The lack of a dedicated tax threatens the long-term viability of the state’s reform law."
What is happening is that the much held up Massachusetts model is collapsing under obscene prices and the lack of funding is driving benefit cuts that have become intolerable. Its obvious that for the system to function, it needs to be able to draw on some kind of tax, not just premiums and user fees designed to "prevent care™".