I * love * the idea of a public option -- "competing" with the HMO's.

And I'm intrigued for years about "Medicare for all" in that -- if I could pay the same crazy money I pay for my current plan--- if I send that same amount to MediCare could I get equal care, but less bullshit? Could doctors stop being glorified collections offices and insurance whores and perhaps offer better than the 15 minute office visits?

My one worry: If it becomes MediCare for all ---what is to stop government from dictating which doctor I can and can't go to? My parents are on MediCare and yes they seem to have full choice but if the masses all got in---would that remain the case?

After all, it's not the case with public schooling --- "a right".

Do insurance companies limit where you can go? Yes to an extent with the referral/ "In network" bullshit but - I like having the option to pay extra for my PPO (which I do) and I know I have to budget for 'out of network' doctors and that's fine.

I just wonder---would Medicare for all let me have that same freedom. but for slightly LOWER premiums? AND would reimbursements to doctors and hospitals make me 'worth it" to their business models? And finally -- would it free up doctors and hospitals to being a bit of 'care' back into health care?

I'd love to see a pilot test. I'd be a single issue voter on this one if I thought I t was good policy and doable. After all --- the stuff I used to vote on is already gone - taxes, infrastructure. culture, poverty, education---it's all gonna suck more and more. So maybe this ONE aspect of life can be made better and who knows. Those "small businesses" some of us claim to love---might have an easier time recruiting employees, hiring people--and not having to compete with big corporations on providing health care.

Back in the day let's say---2020 I think the true total cost for one of my employee's family plan was around $1500 a month. When IU finally sold my companies to a HUGE competitor (10x my size) he giggled. His CFO showed me how they get the SAME damn insurance for $935.00 due to scale. I laughed and said "well that's why I had trouble stealing your employees----;).