The idea of stimulating health co-ops has been under the radar in the current health care debate. NPR does a fine job in this segment reporting on the potential benefits of co-ops while also seeking comment from skeptics of the system.

This is probably the most in-depth examination of the healthcare co-ops proposed by Senator Kent Conrad that I have encountered to date. Unfortunately, this depth is reached narrowly, and neither effectively places the co-ops in broader context, nor addresses the main criticism of them: namely that only in rare occasions will they ever achieve the membership numbers needed for effective bargaining power.

An interesting report about health co-ops, which are just recently being promoted as another alternative in Congressional efforts to reform health care. The article looks at a couple of co-ops as examples, but would benefit from wider-reaching statistics and context. What kind of nation-wide impact would including co-ops have? Many positive aspects are mentioned, but not enough negatives are provided to balance the information. My curiosity has been piqued, but I'm left with unanswered questions.

Coops have existed in rural areas for more than 100 years. When Blue Cross/Blue Shield began they were mutual insurance companies, which were owned by those who buy insurance. Part of the problem of our current system is for profit providers.

It is short and superficial on a subject requiring depth, and creates a misleading warm fuzzy feeling. Critical shortcomings of co-ops as a solution for national health care are not examined. Negative views given are only dogmatic libertarian constructs.

Very superficial view of health coops presented by NPR as an alternative to the "public option" - a large public health care provider to compete with large health providers and insurance companies. Interviews a customer and one or two people who work for a Minnesota coop. In the spirit of "balanced reporting" NPR presents a Republican's viewpoint and a free-market opponent. No point at all from the 60% of Americans who want viable public provided health care. The elephant in the tent, which mainstream media ignores - including NPR - is what would really promote competition is a government program big enough to force the insurance companies' hands.

Interesting radio segment about the health co-op initiative being proposed by Sen. Kent Conrad in Congress. Factual, fair and well sourced, with useful context.

This broadcast tries to better define the co op option in health care reform, and puts positive spin on them as possibilities to counter insurance companies. However, it leaves out some information - could they be interstate, or how many could there be more than one operating in the same area, e.g. And it doesn't address the issue of how much they reduce costs.