House Democrats Consider Making Public Option Out of Expanded Medicare

Grasping for a way to sell a part of health care reform they feel is little understood, House Democrats are considering expanding Medicare to cover everyone, accomplishing roughly the same thing as a public insurance option and within a framework the public already understands, The Hill reported Wednesday. The idea has slowly risen through the ranks, and was discussed at a caucus meeting last week. On Tuesday night, Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled a proposal that would vastly expand Medicare and tie provider reimbursement rates to those of existing Medicare rates.

The strategy could help liberal Democrats convince their centrist colleagues that the public option is palatable to the public. It also frames the health care debate in terms that are well-understood by an electorate that seems reluctant to embrace a major overhaul. A few House Democrats, however, dismissed the plan as an unnecessary gimmick, given that support for a flat-out government insurance option has been steadily rising since it was first attacked as a government takeover of health care.

Republicans also scoffed at the effort. "It didn't matter what they called Crystal Pepsi; no one wanted to drink it," said Michael Steel, spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). "No matter how the Democrats 'rebrand' their government takeover of health care, the American people oppose it."