Reasons For/Against

For PUblic Plan:

1. restore competition
2. greater efficiency and lower costs,
3. Unlike the current for-profit insurers, a public plan does not have the need or incentive to raise and protect its profit margins. Nor does it have any incentive to flout or manipulate regulations. Its concerns are not profit, but the public health.

(from Why A Public Health Insurance Option Is Essential)

Against PUblic Plan:

Opponents of the idea argue that

1. a public health insurance plan competing with private insurers would lead to inferior health care,
2. [would ] harm providers
3. [would] drive the multibillion dollar for-profit health plans out of the market. (Center for American Progress)

Against current system:

The lack of competition and record of egregious deceptive practices demonstrates the need for a public plan. http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2009/09/17/why-a-public-health-insurance-option-is-essential/