Urban Institute: Using Public Option To Close Medicaid Gap Cheaper Than Subsidies

A recent Urban Institute report finds creating a public option that reimburses at Medicare rates, negotiates drug prices, and is limited to consumers in the so-called Medicaid gap would cost far less than extending premium subsidies for the same population to purchase a private plan on the marketplace. Also, since enrollment in the public option would be limited to the gap population -- many of whom are uninsured -- the fiscal impact on providers “would generally be an improvement” over...