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August 5, 2009 Wednesday
MAUREEN GROPPE
By MAUREEN GROPPE
Gannett Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON – Whether to create a publicly run health insurance plan to compete with private insurance companies has emerged as a key question as Congress decides how to revamp the nation’s health care system. Here’s a look at what’s being discussed.
Question: What has the president proposed?
Answer: President Barack Obama wants Congress to create a government-run health insurance program that would compete with private insurers. Congress would have to decide which benefits the plan would cover, how much doctors and other health care providers would be paid, and who would be eligible to purchase a public plan. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Obama said the plan should be open to anyone without access to group coverage through an employer or to current programs. The benefits would be the same as those offered to federal employees.
A plea for a more rational system
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