The Opt-Out Clause: CPR for the Public Health Insurance Option?

The Opt-Out Clause: CPR for the Public Health Insurance Option? in Politics and Legislation

The public health insurance plan is back.

Back on the court.

Back on tour.

Back on the make with new hair, new shoes and — sing it, Patti — a new attitude.

What makes it so politically viable this time? A little opt-out clause that may very well be the magic bullet the Obama administration has been seeking.

The newest vision for the public option proposes establishing a national health care plan that states can opt out of. That means that Republicans and conservative Democrats could more easily sign off on the overall legislation knowing that they can defer the actual decision to local governments.

And, clearly, it would get on board progressive Democrats who insist on a government-sponsored plan. That it has a good chance of garnering bipartisanship that runs more than one-deep? Even better.  

Now, it’s true something similar has already been proposed (the Carter plan), wherein states could choose to opt in for a national plan.

But it’s been estimated that an opt-in would only produce a government plan in 10-20 states whereas the hurdle of having to affirmatively vote a public plan out on a referendum could conceivably bring that number up to 47, reports the Huffington Post.

This idea is still young, yet to be officially introduced, but out of everything that’s bubbling up in the current phase of amendments and bill-melding, this is one we’re keeping an eye on. 

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