Surveys indicate American public supports the 'public option' for health insurance

As the debate over a national health care plan continues, there is evidence that the American public may support a government-run insurance plan (public option) more than Congress does. A New York Times/CBS News Poll reports solid support for the public option plan that would compete with private insurers. Other surveys have found similar results, according to a New York Times article. Here's how NYT/CBS phrased the question: Would you favor or oppose the government offering everyone a government-administered health insurance plan — something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and older get — that would compete with private insurance plans? To that question, a majority -- 65 percent -- answered they would be in favor, while 26 percent opposed and 9 percent offered no position. Yet none of the legislative proposals that include the public option would make it available to everyone. It appears that at the outset it would only be available to those who do not currently have insurance or whose employers do not meet all the criteria for employer-sponsored health plans. Most Republicans in Congress oppose a non-profit government-sponsored health plan, saying it creates "socialized medicine" and would have such an advantage that it would drive most other for-profit insurors out of business. Senator Ron Wyden, (D-0Regon) is fighting for more options that would create competition and drive down prices. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that if the nation had a public plan, at least 11 to 12 million people (just under 5 percent of the U.S. population) would sign up for it.