I can't wait to see what Reid is actually bringing to the table:

If the option is modeled on the provision in the HELP Committee’s bill, the plan would only save about $25 billion over 10 years, without significantly lowering health insurance premiums. It would likely lack Medicare’s market clout or leverage to significantly lower health care costs, but would still represent a not-for-profit alternative that can begin spearheading critical delivery system reforms.

Since both Senate bills establish state and regional based exchanges in lieu of a single national structure, it’s likely that the compromise in the merged Senate bill will establish 50 different options, all controlled by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The public plan would have to attract a network of providers, charge premiums “in an amount sufficient to cover expected costs,” and meet all solvency and reserve fund requirements.

If Reid follows HELP’s template, then within each state or region the Secretary would negotiate reimbursement rates on behalf of the pubic option that would likely mirror the rates used by private insurers (the legislative language states that rates “shall not be higher, in aggregate, than the average reimbursement rates paid by health insurance issuers offering qualified health plans through the Gateway”). The HELP language also allows the public option to “develop or encourage the use of innovative payment policies that promote quality, efficiency and savings to consumers,” a critical provision that would allow the public option to invest in payment and delivery system reforms.
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2009/10/27/reid-help-public-option/

Haven't we really had enough of this nonsense? First it's the Rethuglicans and now it's the "centrist" Dems. All because of a rule, the 60 vote rule, that can be changed simply by changing it to 56, 55, 50.... Yep, just a Senate rule which means a rule of the Senate, any rule, can be changed by a majority. Imagine what could be done with a 50 vote rule (and Biden for 51).

Yes we can!

"End Game: So When Will Health Care Really Happen?"

Never.

Just wait. You'll see. The fun has just begun.

America needs to move forward – one group continuously stands in the way. It’s time for MoveOn to Move Over! The group turned 11 this year, and has repeatedly been the source that drives American politics into the gutter. Stop embarrassing our nation, and move on. http://www.friendsoftheuschamber.com/moveover/

While discussing healthcare with Neil Cavuto, John Boehner acts like a high school meathead and takes a personal shot at Harry Reid.

http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=3287

I'm all ready and waiting for this public option to take effect. Then I can drop my privately paid for health insurance (since I'm self-employed), pay the annual fine for not having health insurance and purchase the government option insurance when it is needed. Works for me!

I predict Mr. Obama will sign something before Christmas and call it historic reform. And it will be, but nothing comparable to passage of Medicare in 1965. It will outlaw discriminatory practices like pre-existing condition exclusions, benefit caps and arbitrary cancellations, but it won't curtail the health care cost spiral or significantly reduce premiums; and it will not include any substantive or meaningful "public option" plan, other than some "trigger" - in an attempt to placate progressives - that will never be pulled. In the end Mr. Obama will have made some improvements to the system, mandated a lot of people to get coverage - and pleased a lot of health care lobbyists in the process. Real health care reform? Not much. I hope this prediction doesn't come true, but that's how I see it right now.

What is the end state? I am paying nearly $700 per month for med and dental ins. What does anybody expect the cost reduction to be after a 2 trillion dollar investment over 10 years?

Will I see a savings of 10%, 20% or no change at all?

From what I see now only 10% of the population will qualify for the PO... that said... how will a PO be a competitor to bring down costs? Are they going to force practices to accept the new PO? more and more are not taking new medicare patients?

Really folks - we are being led down a primrose path. Are we so willing take on all this debt without a clear business plan?

The only guarantee in all this is the govt will be getting more money from the taxpayer. No guarantees or even a coherent business plan to benefit the end user - none!

This just seems to be a big scam - with the only benefit going to Uncle Sam.