Father Of The 'Public Option' Defends His Big Idea
On Capitol Hill, delivering petitions against a health care bill that includes a public option. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption
On Capitol Hill, delivering petitions against a health care bill that includes a public option.
Win McNamee/Getty ImagesOn today's Planet Money:
Meet Jacob Hacker, the father of the "public option." Hacker, a Yale political science professor, introduced the notion of the federal government offering a health insurance plan that would compete with ones from private companies.
President Obama calls the public option a means of pressuring private insurers to keep policies affordable, while critics say it would put them at an unfair disadvantage.
Now Hacker takes a turn defending his big idea, saying that a public plan would cost less to run and be able to bargain for better prices.
Bonus: A health insurance tale, after the jump.
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We asked for your stories about dealing with insurance company billing practices. Brian Gist, who now lives in Chicago, sent one from 2001. We'll delete the insurer's name. Gist writes:
While on a ski trip to Lake Tahoe, I fell (on my first run on the
first day of the trip) which required a trip to the Tahoe Ski Clinic.
A set of x-rays showed no injury — "Put some ice on it and take some Advil, and spend quality time in the bar while the rest of your family skis this week."
When I received my statement from [deleted], I was only slightly surprised to find the claim was denied. That was their M.O. — deny first, and pay after I called for an override.
It was instead the reason for the decline, however, that made me smile:
PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.