STUDY: The Public Option in the 2020 Economic Environment

A new report released by FTI Consulting and the Partnership for America’s Health Care Future reveals the consequences of the public option for American patients. It could threaten access to quality care during a public health crisis by putting hospitals at greater risk of closure and creating a “two-tier” health insurance system.

The report, “The Public Option in the 2020 Economic Environment,” examines how our current health care system would have responded if a new government-controlled health insurance system called the public option was implemented before this crisis.

The Facts:

The public option “would only exacerbate stresses on the health system. Instead of improving access to care and supporting health system capacity, the public option could instead leave many Americans worse off.”

With Americans depending on our health care system now more than ever, we can’t afford to create a one-size-fits-all new government health insurance system like the public option, that could threaten access to high-quality care.

The Truth:

American patients can’t afford the higher costs and lower quality care of the public option. Any one-size-fits-all new government health insurance system would force Americans to pay more for worse care. And during this critical time, access to affordable, high-quality care is more important than ever.

Specifically, the significant consequences for states such as California, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Arizona have experienced due to the current public health crisis could be worsened under a one-size-fits-all new government health insurance system like the public option, threatening their ability to care for patients in need.

We should build on what’s working where private coverage, Medicare, and Medicaid work together to expand access to coverage and care for every American – not start over with a one-size-fits-all new government health insurance system like the public option.