The Maine Lesson

" Now president Barack Obama says the government option is an essential part of healthcare reform."

" And Democrats in congress continue to indicate that a government option is still on the table."

" So what their wishes come true. What was that option really look like Griff Jenkins traveled to Maine where residents there. Know all too well about the impact of a government takeover of the health care system."

" Democrats in Washington has sent a clear message to the president in the American people they want the public option."

" The union needs. For about public option is very clear NASA had said -- house them."

" We'll have a public corruption but a short trip to them into lighthouses. Offers a daunting look at -- public option like prayer at the national level."

" Main motto is."

" Steering Latin for Eileen and that's just what they did in 2003. They signed into law this State's first attempt. -- so called public -- government assisted health care plan. It was named appropriately -- here six years ago -- an institute that instituted."

" ago helped. Rebuild well. As a government auction. After advocates made this -- promises about what it would do to bring down cost and increased access. But advocates of a nationwide government health care plan -- right now -- Washington."

" go ahead three major component that we compared to Obama's plan to similarities. Startled. First it sought to cover all of the and ensure my plan will provide more security and stability to those who have -- Offer all the affordable choices for those who currently don't. Second it was to be paid for by government created savings. We estimated the most of this plan can be paid for by my savings. We've -- the existing officers and third it promised no new taxes you will not see your taxes. It reached a single -- So how is your -- of."

" work remains small population of one point three million. Trish Riley -- the State's director of the governor's office of health policy and findings of a comprehensive reform was designed to address costs."

" Quality and access to health care is very much more than just an insurance product. It built on the Medicaid program in the state -- the lowest income people -- coverage it's been created a subsidized health insurance practice on top of that. For those people -- on Medicaid who earned a dollar too much and file off the cliff it was a noble goal says Maine's current speaker of the house."

" It was exciting it was a step in the right direction is a step towards universal health care. The entire idea behind -- though it was good health care based singer Billy Payne -- to offer people discounts are vouchers. To that the the buy insurance."

" For the most part of Forbes is being looked favorably on the job. People actually work into it sounded beautiful but he added we're gonna insure a 140000. People who. I've never had insurance or have bad insurance neighborhood who would do very cost effective fashion. Spotlight yet secure letter -- the -- though it our experiment that turned out to be a colossal and extremely Coughlin. Failure so what went wrong with -- again Karen bragged in the Maine heritage policy center says the program failed in practice."

" Us what happened -- a year ago as we set up this plan that was very very heavily subsidized. And people flocked to the and then because people got something for very little cost and utilization went through the roof and so premiums to sky rocketed up 74%."

" Joe Bruno was the state house Republican leader at the time of teargas inception he now sits on the board endeared him. It doesn't work -- ago has not even come close to fulfilling its promise. Covering the uninsured and -- me. We can't provide this plan everyone because we're not getting enough revenue and a plan doesn't I'm not cost savings and health care in this state. As defined by the plan find more people."

" Two years ago just like what congress is trying to do said we'll cover you at any time no matter what we -- preexisting condition exclusion. And that's what drove up costs people cycle on their second and they cycle often helping. Get sick again they cycle back -- and -- program is structured in a way that encourages them. -- go lynch slipped up by a number of different things and so I would say it was a valuable experiment."

" So here's the question. Is -- go to public option like the one President Obama has been pushing for. Doesn't that the benefits of does it if it doesn't so the rates. It doesn't set even that even the premiums and negotiated with the truck -- to -- is -- fully insured product by a fully licensed private insurance companies such a public private partnership the governor's point person Trish Reilly says this is not a public plan."

" I think that's completely distant past her own dear -- help agency administrator. Describes appear or choice as a model of the public plan under Obama there."

" At its highest level of -- only about 15000 Maynard recovered and are here again today it's less than 10000. That's far cry from the original bill which would cover 128000. This."

" My initial promises it is not covered most of the uninsured. And yet it's leavened hard. Maine residents originally was supposed to be."

" Paid for by government creating savings and health care system similar to the rhetoric we're hearing from Washington. But what we've seen is the plan to bankrupt and just this year the legislature passed a new 2.4 percent tax on private health claims paperwork."

" Senator Collins for example. Has discussed the problems they've had in mind. As a result of it would help create a government run health plan. Do you oppose the public option because of what you saw happen in your -- state named with a dear god."

" I -- city public action hurt philosophical. Reasons. I don't think that the government should be competing with the private sector. I also am aware of what happened to me with at public plants. And -- it did not live up to this saliva kissing crown that are being me."

" Maine's other senator Olympia Snowe was the lone Republican in the senate finance committee to cross party lines and vote for the democratic health care bill. But she says she's still skeptical including a public option."

" I -- republicans' concerns. About bass. Government bureaucracies. In government intrusion. That's why I opposed the amendment and the so called public option she says the experience in Maine has played a part in this concerns."

" Certainly isn't basis. An outstanding debt public approach experience. And that has been expensive and expensive option in the state of Maine has not been able to musicals. Because it has been so expensive -- hasn't been able to -- as many people. As originally projected so it is an experience that we have to consider as we move boarding and examining. The public option approaches and proposed again. And by so many here in congress."

" The experiment in health care here and name. It has -- government component. In some call a public option has been met with -- dire fiscal realities premiums in the play continue to rise in enrollment has been capped. All results perhaps the leaders of Washington. And President Obama they want to consider before signing such a plan in the law. -- state of."

" One point three million people having a bankrupt plan is bad enough but if you're replicating it to 300 million patients across the country. That's a disaster."

" And coming up the."