Co-Op Option Offers Compromise In Health Debate

All Things Considered by Joanne Silberner | Jul. 1, 2009 (Special Report)

(Audio - streaming) A new health insurance idea is circulating through the Senate Finance Committee and may appear in its final plan for revamping the nation's health care system. The idea is to stimulate the creation of co-ops where people could go to buy low-cost, high-quality health insurance.

Health co-ops are not a new idea. Two large ones, Group Health in Seattle and HealthPartners in Minneapolis, are more than 50 years old. But the thought that co-ops could ... Full Story »

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by Naomi Isler - Jul. 1, 2009

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.

The more I hear, the more I think that revising the payment structure is crucial to reducing costs.