Public Option Watch: ‘Disappointing’ Consequences In Washington State

WASHINGTON – As politicians in some state capitals discuss creating new state government-controlled health insurance systems known as the public option or state government option, there is a growing body of research and chorus of opposition warning of the unaffordable costs and consequences. 

• Writing of the first and only state to create a state government option so far, Stateline reports that “early results from Washington state’s experiment are disappointing. In many parts of the state, premiums for the public option plans cost more than premiums for comparable commercial plans. Many of the state’s hospitals have refused to take part in the public option, prompting lawmakers to introduce more legislation this year to force participation if there aren’t sufficient health insurance options in a geographic area. And consumer buy-in is also meager. In its first year of operation, the state health insurance exchange sold only 1,443 public option plans, representing fewer than 1 percent of all exchange policies.”

To read Stateline’s report, CLICK HERE.

To learn more about the Partnership for America’s Health Care Future, CLICK HERE.