Busting the Myths: The Public Health Care Option

Rallying The Troops | Speaking to more than 10,000 supporters of quality, affordable health care for all — including nearly 2,000 AFSCME activists — at a Capitol Hill rally in June. 

Photo Credit: Luis Gómez

Message from the President

By Gerald W. McEntee

AFSCME IS IN THE BATTLE for health care reform — not only for the millions of Americans who lack access to quality care, but our members whose costs are constantly increasing while the quality of care declines.

We have an historic opportunity to achieve what Americans need: health care reform with increased efficiency and more choice. But a public health insurance option continues to be a source of disagreement. In our view, a public plan must be part of reform. First, we’ve got to dispel some myths.

Myth #1:

A new public plan will undercut private insurance plans on price to expand coverage to more Americans, and drive some private plans out of business.

Reality:

Private insurance companies can’t have it both ways. They say they provide better service at a lower cost than the government while complaining that they aren’t strong enough to compete with the government. The goal of reform is protecting the American public, not insurance companies’ profits.

Companies providing good value and service will continue to survive and prosper. Inefficient ones with high administrative costs and excessive profits may not.

Most importantly, the insurance market will benefit from a public plan that can negotiate fair payments to providers and inject competition into the marketplace.

Myth #2:

In a public plan, health care and medication would be rationed and patients would be on long waiting lists for care.

Reality:

No current proposals would ration care. Look at our publicly administered Medicare program: Care isn’t rationed and seniors report a high level of satisfaction with their access and quality of care. Rationing is a scare word used to stop meaningful attempts to reform health care.

Myth #3:

A public plan would allow a bureaucrat to get between you and your doctor and make decisions about your care.

Reality:

Too often these decisions are made by the insurance company, not you and your doctor. Insurance companies actually stop patients from accessing specialists and treatments. There are hundreds of documented cases in which denials and delays have led to needless suffering, even death. Incidences of denied care under Medicare are far fewer than under private insurance.