The Facts

The Case for Public Plan Choice in National Health Reform

Key To Cost Control and Quality Coverage

By Jacob S. Hacker, Ph.D.
Berkeley Law Center on Health, Economic, and Family Security
December 16th, 2008
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Public plan choice, when public and private insurance compete side by side to attract enrollees on a level playing field, rewards plans that deliver better value and health to their enrollees. According to opinion polling, most Americans want public and private insurance competing side by side so that they can choose the best option for themselves and their families. Both should have a chance to prove their strengths and improve their weaknesses in a competitive partnership. Read the report from Prof. Jacob Hacker. more »

Health Care For America

A proposal for guaranteed, affordable health care for all Americans building on Medicare and employment-based insurance

By Jacob S. Hacker
Professor at Yale University
January 11th, 2007
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Health Care For America allows people to keep the health care coverage they have and offers Americans the choice to buy into a public plan like Medicare. It combines personal responsibility and an employer contribution to create a new framework ensuring that everyone is covered. more »

Terrance Heath's picture

More Uninsured Children

Submitted by Terrance Heath
August 28, 2007

In 2006, 11.7% of children, or 8.7 million kids, went without health insurance. That's up from the previous year, when 10.9%, or 8 million children, were uninsured.

Source
U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division August 28, 2007
Alex Carter's picture

Americans Lack Health Insurance

Submitted by Alex Carter
March 11, 2008

47 million Americans lacked health insurance in 2006, up from 38 million in 2000.

Source
Carmen DeNavas-Walt, Bernadette D. Proctor, and Jessica Smith. “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006,” United States Census Bureau. August 2007. Available from: http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/p60-233.pdf

The Economic State Of The Union 2012

By Isaiah J. Poole
January 24, 2012

These charts from the Economic Policy Institute, first published in December 2011, present some important snapshots of the economic conditions facing working-class and middle-class people. more »

Quotes From Behind The Conservative Wrecking Ball

By Eric Hunt
June 29, 2011

Rep. Michele Bachmann

  • "I have no intention of voting to raise the debt ceiling because, right now, the federal government continues to spend more money than what it takes in."

    • more »


If you had to choose, which do you think is more important for the country to do right now, maintain the tax cuts enacted in recent years or make sure all Americans have access to health care?

Cutting taxes 18%
Access to health insurance 76% more »

Source
CBS News/New York Times Poll, February 2007

Pulse_Public_option_poll.jpg

Source
The Washington Post/ABC News poll, January 12-15, 2010.

Other Good Resources