You are correct. The plans offered to federal employees are from the same companies that the private sector uses.
Some people like to compare health insurance to auto insurance, but in auto insurance people make a choice to pay less insurance for a larger deductible. Yet in health insurance people want the lesser cost without the corresponding increase in out of pocket expense.

Now I can't remember everything in the health bills but i have a few specifics that I think are enough to prove the value, perhaps I should say lack of value, of the bills
1. You get to keep you current health care.
a. True for five years.
b. Then all providers must be in the "exchange"
2. Although not spoken of anymore, the "public option" is wrong on two counts at least
a. Such a plan would have several unfair advantages.
b. Government in direct competition with private companies in the US is against the law.
3. The bills require the Government to increase the time between pregnancies.
a. How can that be done?
b. What happens to a person that does not comply?
c. What happens when they change the time limit? No input from Congress would be required.
4. The claim that there is not attempt to take over this industry is suspect.
a. All qualified providers of insurance are required to be in the exchange. b. All providers in the exchange are required to be under contract to the Government.
c. The Government determines what must be covered.
d. The Government determines what can be charged for the services covered.
5. In addition there is section after section that levies additional reporting requirements on all aspects of the health process.

And this is just a small portion of the bills.


Quote Originally Posted by steelish View Post
That may be. Before I got laid off, the company I used to work for offered insurance at NO COST to employees. A private company - not federal. Only if you wanted family coverage did you have to pay out of pocket, otherwise it was free. Dr. visits through their plan was also a $10 copay, so when I had my son, the only payment I ever made was the initial $10 copay charge for my first visit to my obstetrician. I went through months of visits, I received the usual prenatal vitamins, I went to the hospital when I went into labor, had an emergency C-section, stayed three days, was discharged...and never had to pay another dime. Just my initial $10 copay.

I'm not saying federal insurance programs offered through federal employment is bad (it's not a whole lot different than employee sponsored programs), but I think what they offer federal employees is completely different than the plan Obama is proposing.

Under the plan I had with my employer, I received the best care - no questions asked. No third party involvement. No one interfering in the doctor/patient relationship. Something was recommended, my husband and I conferred with each other, it was done and the insurance company paid.