Know true cost of the public option

I think some people prefer the public option in the health care debate because they assume it will save money. Senate Leader Harry Reid said, "I don't think we should be crying great big tears about the insurance industry. There is no business in America that makes more money than the insurance industry."

While I'm not sure what is wrong with making a profit, his statement is not even accurate. In 2008 insurance company profits averaged 2.2 percent. They were 35th on the list of industries by profit margin.

Then I learn that the average federal employee earns almost exactly twice as much as the average private sector employee in compensation and benefits. This is not much of a surprise, have you heard about their pensions? Finally, Dan Lucas said, "Private health insurance is more than three times as cost effective as government health insurance." That should not be surprise either.

So the bottom line and main concern about the public option simply is, government provided insurance will cost more than private insurance, a lot more. The government may not charge what it costs them like they do with Medicare, but if Medicare alone doesn't bankrupt this country, government provided insurance for all certainly will.

Bill Hartman

Barrington