Private insurance mandate + subsidies for poor - P.O. = direct govt payments to insurance co.s

[HamdenRice]

This was the overall point of the first segment on DemocracyNow this morning. Even if the subsidy scheme means everyone will be able afford insurance because the government will make up the difference between cost and what's affordable, that means the government would essentially be paying directly to private insurance companies on behalf of the insured.

That's stupid. If the government is going to pay the difference, why not pay it to themselves through the public option?