Even the AARP says that the insurance industry report that came out this week is a piece of propaganda. And here’s Robert Reich on why we need a public option…

It’s an 11th-hour bombshell.

But the bomb went off under the insurers. The only reason these costs can be passed on to consumers in the form of higher premiums is because there’s not enough competition among private insurers to force them to absorb the costs by becoming more efficient. Get it? Health insurers have just made the best argument yet about why a public insurance option is necessary.

Another good idea would be to extend Medicare to everyone over age 55. That saves money because they don’t come into the system with huge problems that could have been prevented.