Single Player
- Doctors, and hospitals are paid by a single source that is created and managed by the government.
- Like a public option plan, the government would pay for care. But unlike the “option,” there would no longer be private insurance companies.
- A supporter standpoint: Would undoubtedly ensure health care for all citizens.
- An opponent standpoint: Abolishing the free market competition between private insurers would lead to poor quality of care and over-regulation.
Public Option
- Government provides an optional public health care plan that would compete with private insurance.
- A supporter standpoint: The government plan competing with the private plans could make insurance companies offer more competitive prices.
- An opponent standpoint: Public insurance plans are paid for by all citizens, even those who choose a private plan.
Private Insurance
- Individuals would be responsible for the cost of their health care.
- With the exception of Medicare and Medicaid programs, this is, for the most part, the current system.
- A supporter standpoint: Minimal centralization of health care allows for the free market competition of insurance companies, which ensures health care quality.
- An opponent standpoint: Not all citizens can afford private insurance and access to healthcare is a fundamental right.
What It Means to Me
- Being uninsured would be a thing of the past. Now those pre-campus immunization costs come out of taxpayer dollars.
- A cheap public option might allow students who could not afford insurance before to be covered.
- Taxes going to health care would stay put and finding the health care option that best fits your lifestyle is your decision and responsibility.