Ambinder: White House thinks progressives want private insurance mandate

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/19/769535/-Ambinder:-White-House-thinks-progressives-want-private-insurance-mandate

by Jed Lewison
Wed Aug 19, 2009 at 04:46:04 PM PDT

Marc Ambinder, http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/08/forget_liberals_white_house_senate_double_down_onbipartisanship.php">citing unnamed White House officials (thereby http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/19/769379/-What-theyre-saying-(anonymously)-at-the-White-House">adding to the parade of anonymity), says the administration believes progressives will agree to dump the public option because health care reform will include "a goodybag" including a legal mandate that all individuals purchase coverage from a private health insurance plan.

snip

Keeping in mind that this anonymously sourced report could be total bunk, it's worth pointing out that axeing the public option and requiring individuals to purchase coverage under a private health insurance plan would be a horrible political miscalculation. If you think we're having problems selling health care reform now, just wait until we try to explain why all adults under 65 will be required to purchase health insurance from the private sector with no public option.

Oh, you're not interested in making that argument? I didn't think so.

When coupled with a public option (or the sort of rigorous regulatory regime which isn't under consideration), a mandate achieves universal coverage and cures the free-rider problem. But without the public option, the private sector will have a monopoly on a product the public is required to buy, and over the long-run you'll almost certainly see premiums skyrocket and quality of care plummet...