Lewin Group analyzes the impact of several proposed scenarios for the public option:
http://www.lewin.com/content/publications/LewinCostandCoverageImpactsofPublicPlan-Alternative%20DesignOptions.pdffrom the report: "If Medicare payment levels are used in the public plan, premiums would be up to 30 percent less than premiums for comparable private coverage. On average, the monthly premium in the public plan for a typical benefits package would be $761 per family compared with an average of $970 per family in the private market for the same coverage."
How many people can afford $761 out of pocket? Sure it's a good thing that it's down from $970 a month but $200 less is progress? I don't think that this will solve the problem of the uninsured.
With single payer you don't pay anything out of pocket its paid for with progressive taxation which means your portion is subsidized by millionaires and billionaires to who will pay a multiple of $761 so you can pay like $300 or some other reasonable amount based on your income.
If it's not paid for with progressive taxation then it's not really reform.
The public option is a distraction from what we all should be fighting to get our politicians to enact: SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE. Medicare for all. One plan for the nation -- everyone in, nobody out.
Taiwan moved to this system in 1995 and it was a huge success. Why not USA?