Quantcast
Home manage Las Vegas Review-Journal
  Jobs Cars Homes Shopping Travel Weddings Golf Best of Las Vegas Photo   Search:

RECENT EDITIONS
Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

Breaking News


Reid: Final health bill will have a 'public option'

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said today there will be a "public option" in whatever health insurance reform bill comes out of Congress.

"We are going to have a public option before this bill goes to the president's desk," Reid said in a conference call with constituents, referring to some kind of government plan.


Most Popular Stories
  • Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer
  • Three suspects arrested in shooting death of police officer
  • Station Casinos posts $455 million third-quarter loss
  • Man sentenced to 15 years for federal tax crimes
  • Las Vegas police shoot at man fleeing after traffic stop
  • Las Vegas police shoot at man fleeing after traffic stop
  • Suspect in officer slaying leaves hospital, enters jail
  • Escalator accident at Caesars Palace still under investigation
  • Las Vegas man denied pardon in killing of abusive father
  • Man pleads guilty in death of girlfriend's child
  • Visitors authority urges officials to call off mock nuclear blast
  • Palms agrees to pay $100,000 to settle complaint




  • "I believe the public option is so vitally important to create a level playing field and prevent the insurance companies from taking advantage of us," he said.

    Reid also mentioned the inclusion of incentives for healthy behavior, something suggested by Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev.

    Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.

    Newsvine Digg Fark Technorati reddit StumbleUpon del.icio.us Slashdot Propeller Mixx Furl Twitter MySpace Facebook Google Bookmarks Yahoo! Bookmarks Windows Live Favorites Ask MyStuff myAOL Favorites

    Leave Your Comment 171 Reader Comments
    Terms & Conditions
    The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The reviewjournal.com does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please notify the web editor.

    Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 48 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
    Current Word Count:

    Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

    Miguel wrote on October 23, 2009 08:52 PM: It should be a "public option" and not those fake pro insurance plans. I did quite a bit for Obama here in the wild south. If he and the Democrats don’t push for a robust public option I will seat out at Election Day in 2010. I might be even cover my nose and vote republican. YOU ARE ON NOTICE! MR. PRESIDENT!!!!


    don verhoef wrote on October 22, 2009 05:08 PM: Please dont' give up on a public option for health care! when the law was passed that everyone had to have auto insurance, the price never went down! Please go after the insurance company's with their protection of anti-trust laws. They have had such an unfair advantage for such a very long time. As it is, insurance companies are the ones that get to determine our health care. Thank you for your help for Nevada and USA! Please keep it up. Life is pretty hard for a lot of people here in Reno. We feel that you are one of us. Our grand children know your grand children. Years ago, I worked in same courts as your daughter. We think of you as a part of our family. Go get them Harry! Please give us good health care for all Americans. Also, why can't the kids get H1N1 vaccine in schools? That is how we were vaccinated against Small Pox in the 1950's Best Regards, Margaret Verhoef


    L. Merrill wrote on October 20, 2009 09:03 AM: Some things in life are unconscionable. To a short list of unconscionable human behaviors that includes murder, rape, mayhem, etc., I would add the crime of 'taking profit from sick peoples' misery'. Private healthcare insurers are in business to do exactly that: take profit from the sick, and from those who attempt to protect themselves from financial ruin should they become sick.

    The only way Americans can avoid falling prey to the currently acceptable practice of reaping profit off illness is to have a Public Healthcare Plan in place. Such a plan would operates for the good of all Americans, rather than for the good of a few thousand shareholders'stock portfolios. When it comes to the health of our families and our countrymen, shareholders' profits must no longer figure into the cost structure. We can no longer afford their excessive greed.

    Let me be clear: I am not suggesting that medical professionals, hospitals, ambulance services, etc., should forego excellent pay for excellent services rendered. To the contrary: dollars spent on medical care should go to the very individuals and institutions that deliver the biggest bang for the buck.

    Folks, that's not, nor has it ever been, the health insurance industry's shareholders.


    Lawrence Shepherd wrote on October 15, 2009 04:39 PM: Public Option or NO Health BILL at all


    Virginia Smith wrote on October 15, 2009 11:44 AM: There are comments of pure lies made here Like ending life plans EVERY hospital requires this directive ! and it costs over 300 dollars I had a cardiac cath and this was not covered by insurance This should be part of healthcare and paid for and revised every five years STOP LIEING ABOUT THIS! EVERY ONE WHO IS GETTING ANY SURGERY HAS TO HAVE THIS DIRECTIVE!!


    Anne Vance wrote on October 15, 2009 11:00 AM: I would prefer a government run single pay system across the board with the insurance companies out of the picture. But I feel that the public option is the next best thing and without it it would be a complete give-away to the insurance industry.

    I want to thank all those Senators who signed on for the public option, especialy my own senators, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden from Oregon. I expect more will sign on, and must do so ,as the debate continues. I just hope they all can picture themselves in the shoes of the people struggling to keep their heads above water and now faced with the prospect of having to pay an extra fee of $1,000 or more per year whether they can afford it or not. This is similar to the mandate to buy car insurance but with car insurance one may be able to opt out by not driving a car.

    Bottom line: no public option, vote no.
    This plan would be worse than what we have now without the option.


    Anne Vance wrote on October 15, 2009 11:00 AM: I would prefer a government run single pay system across the board with the insurance companies out of the picture. But I feel that the public option is the next best thing and without it it would be a complete give-away to the insurance industry.



    I want to thank all those Senators who signed on for the public option, especialy my own senators, Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden from Oregon. I expect more will sign on, and must do so ,as the debate continues. I just hope they all can picture themselves in the shoes of the people struggling to keep their heads above water and now faced with the prospect of having to pay an extra fee of $1,000 or more per year whether they can afford it or not. This is similar to the mandate to buy car insurance but with car insurance one may be able to opt out by not driving a car.



    Bottom line: no public option, vote no.

    This plan would be worse than what we have now without the option.


    garten wrote on October 15, 2009 09:53 AM: single pair
    public option

    show some power quick being a wimp.


    Harry Grace wrote on October 15, 2009 08:31 AM: A Public Option or new representation, if a Public Option is out so will incumbents be in 2010.


    george bourque wrote on October 14, 2009 12:22 AM: The only change Americans should be thinking about is to vote these folks[mostly dems] out of office and get new ideas. Most of these folks stay in office too long. Why? Because folks like go to the polls, recognize their names and just check them off. I am guilty of this myself...So lets go and vote them out in 2010 & 2012. Get Obama out of office, for all he is doing is giving out 170 thousand dollar jobs to his buddies and really expanding government.Most of them are already millionaires, they will not be hurting.America voted for change...Well we got it....This country is going, no, is broke but we keep spending..I wish I could do that.


    Read All Comments