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Durbin Supports Public Option in Health Insurance Reform Bill
This week is shaping up as showdown week in the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on whether health care reform legislation will include a public option.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who does not sit on the Finance Committee, says he's for a public option, unless someone has a better idea. "I'm trying to keep an open mind," he said. "If someone has another alternative which guarantees that there'll be competition with the private health insurance companies so we can keep costs down, make them more affordable, and make sure the coverage is there when you need it, I’m open to it."

A top goal of reformers is to protect individuals with a "pre-existing condition" - a known risk, such as an illness or chronic condition, from being dropped by insurance companies or having their rates raised to an unaffordable level. Insurers have said that to do that, there would have to be a requirement that everyone carry insurance, otherwise only the sick would buy insurance. Reformers view a public option - a non-profit insurer set up by the government - as a means to prevent the private sector from taking advantage of an insurance requirement.

The committee is working on a plan for voting on amendments and perhaps bringing the public option to a vote this week. Durbin says whatever comes out of the committee is likely to be revised and amended any number of times before a floor vote, and even further as it is squared with House legislation.

(Illinois Radio Network)
09 27 09 by Newsroom
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