What is the most controversial aspect of the Democrats reform overhaul?
Democrats are pushing for a public plan, run by the government, to compete with private health insurers. President Obama says it would “keep insurance companies honest.” Individuals and small businesses could shop for an affordable plan in an insurance “exchange” or marketplace, which would offer different choices. But Republicans feel a public plan eventually would drive health insurers out of business and leave a health system run entirely by the government. This could be the issue that blows up a potential agreement, says Paul Ginsburg, president of the Center for Studying Health System Change.
