Reply #35: It could be that way, however, the point of the public plan would be that

[Cleita]

for those who can't afford insurance the government would subsidize it for them. Anyway that was the way the plan by Edwards was envisioned. In other words the public plan would be for companies and unions to buy into since it could be sold to them for a reduced premium and better coverage than the private insurers. That's because no profit is needed on the government plan. It would also cover the uninsured who don't have company or union coverage by government subsidy. It would give coverage to those the insurance companies have dropped for pre-existing conditions or raised the premiums up so high they can't afford it. However, now that Edwards isn't around to fight for his plan, I don't know what might result.