I understand why everyone is arguing over the public option, and I think that it is blinding us to some of the other parts of healthcare reform. Like the old advice about negotiating, go with more requests than you know you will get.
I just think that the goal should be Single Payer. It would cover ALL people automatically, and there would be no concern about what is and isnt covered, even by a public option.
I understand why President Obama is saying you can keep your healthcare if you like it. This is good for people who have contracts, but what about people who are provided healthcare that is not by contract? What if the public option comes out, your company offers a "better more cost effective plan" (read crappier, but cheaper for them) You COULD get the public option, but you will have to pay for it. What if the employer provided healthcare is always touted as being the reason you didnt get a good raise? What if you have to pay a fair share? Some employers offer a stipend if you dont take the healthcare, but it is usually nowhere near the amount it would cost them to cover you (or what your COBRA payment would be). It probably wouldn't be enough to cover you under the public option. Wouldn't that just be a kick in the nuts.
I don't know why employers wouldnt just dump the healthcare down to bare minimum levels to avoid the pay or play tax (or just pay the tax, it may still be cheaper in the end). We are talking about some companies who will send jobs overseas to save a dime!
I think if presented the information about Single Payer (life expectancies, infant mortality rates, average cost/person, percentage of income, percentage of GDP, lack of medical bankruptcies, etc) most people would come around.
Its a shame their aren't any fancy little fliers, or cute web pages, or commercials airing for this. Stuff like that does tend to get peoples attention. The movie "Sicko" brings up some of this, but people tend to want to plug their ears and go LALALA because of the messenger, regardless of the validity of the message.
Back to my main point. Fight for Single Payer. Let them filibuster, pass it with 50 with Joe Biden as the vote. Obama was pro single payer before, im sure we could convince him back! Show the American people day in and day out how Republicans, the HMOs, and even some Democrats are not for them, but only for their pockets.