Judge: Consider public health insurance option

ANKENY - A government-operated option for health insurance should be discussed, Patty Judge said, although the Democratic challenger in Iowa's U.S. Senate race said she's not ready to fully endorse the public option.

Judge spoke about health care policies and issues Wednesday at an event hosted by Partnership for Better Health, a coalition of Iowa health care organizations.

Judge, a former lieutenant governor and state ag secretary, is running against longtime Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley.

Judge spoke with representatives of several health care organizations during the event at Des Moines Area Community College. The discussion was led by Andy McGuire, a retired doctor and co-leader of the Partnership for Better Health. She also is the state chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Judge, a former registered nurse, said after the discussion that despite news that premiums for plans under the federal health care law will rise more than 20 percent on average next year, she supports the law and is open to making fixes to reduce costs.

The federal government reported this week that health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act will rise an average of 22 percent, although federal subsidies for low-income Americans also will increase. That means many who receive insurance through the ACA will see small or no premium increase.

The news also rekindled debate about whether the law should include a public option in addition to the private insurers that offer plans under the federal law.

'That needs to be on the table,” Judge said. 'I don't know that today I'm ready to endorse the public option, but I think, again, if we bring this bill back up on the floor, if we have some serious discussions, some hearings, that needs to be a part of the discussion.”

Judge reiterated her position that she wants to keep and improve the law, which has provided health insurance to 21 million more Americans than were covered in 2012, according to federal statistics. Many Republicans have advocated repealing the law.

'We need to bring that bill up on the floor of the Senate and the House and try to see what is driving the premium increases (and) what we can do to change the act so that it is affordable and works better,” Judge said. 'I think it can be done.”

Grassley campaign manager Bob Haus said in an emailed statement that Judge should 'offer some concrete solutions on how to actually control costs” under the federal health care law.

'It is reckless and irresponsible for Patty Judge to go anywhere near anything health care-related, given she cheered the federal health law that's responsible for punishing increases in premiums for thousands of Iowans,” Haus said.

Public polls on Iowa's U.S. Senate race have shown Grassley leading Judge, most by double digits.