Health Insurance

Have any of these politicians thought that perhaps in lieu of a “public option” run by the government, we could have a government subsidized and privately run health insurance. Large insurance companies could “bid” , say, every five years to contract with the government to administer a health plan that meets or exceeds a minimum standard. Their proposals would have to include the initial cost(what the premiums aree today) as well as how they are going to reduce costs, and premiums, each year for the term of their contract. We could then pay the premiums on a sliding scale, if you make $20,000 dollars you pay a small amount or none, if you make $100,000 dollars you pay a much higher premium or all of it.This would save us money in several ways. First, we would pay less toward administration costs because the insurance company already has the infrastructure in place to administer the plan. Second, there would be less “government waste” because a private company does not want waste within their own system. And third, because the insurance company, as a part of their “bid” would have to lower costs and premiums over the course of their contract, we would see continual lowering of cost to us, the taxpayer, as they eliminate things that cost them money. Now, I understand that this last part may be a little controversial but………..We could also move some or all of Medicare/Medicaid recipients over to the plan, thus reducing or eliminating that office and the money pit it has become for the taxpayer.