How About A Real Competitive Solution?

Prez Obama stated in his health care/insurance reform speech he wants a public option that competes with private insurers. He said the "public" plan would have to be non-deficit producing, just work on its own.

Now I agree with the idea of competition ... except the government is not and should not be a business (how is gm and Chrysler working out?).

The key to decreasing medical costs is allowing MORE competion. Allow insurers to compete across state lines ... encourage the insurers to be more creative. Also, create a template that allows indiduals to purchase health care directly from medical professionals. This can be combined with their insurance.

People need to see the actual cost that insurance is covering. I know they get statements mailed to them. But we should see the costs upfront ... and be able to find the "deal" that we like.

Medicare is a single payer system, and the SERVICE works. The economics do not. Medicare has trilllions in unfunded liabilities over time. Because Medicare does not cover the actual costs of medical service, the private sector, the medical community, needs to charge more to make up for the losses Medicare creates.

And what about the pharmaceutical industry? What are these cost savings agreements that the white house has negotiated? Are they secret?

Obama is right about the problem of increasing medical costs and insurance.

He should use his intelligence and charm to encourage the private sector to develop a range of cost-effective, competitive solutions.