"The Public Option"

As a Florida estate planning and elder law attorney, I get to hear my clients' views on health care reform (and a lot of other topics, too!). Most of my clients seem to be satisfied with Medicare --which is in effect, a "public option." And judging from a recent survey by the American Medical Association, most physicians have a favorable opionion of Medicare, too. Doctors report that Medicare actually gives them more latitude, not less, in devising treatment options for their older patients. They find the paperwork burdensome, but on the plus side, Medicare tends to be a more reliable source of payment than private insurers. Read more about the AMA report. If patients and doctors are fairly happy with the public option for older Americans, should it be offered to all age levels? Something to think about as we Americans continue to debate this highly important topic...