There are plenty of policy wonks who want to eliminate private insurers completely and adopt a single-payer health system.

Maggie Mahar takes a more reasonable approach, acknowledging that innovative solutions can indeed come from the private sector. She cites Seattle’s Group Health, who have found a way for doctors to financially survive seeing only 10 patients a day.

A hybrid public-private solution is the approach an Obama administration is likely to take, and she points out that “keeping honest insurers in the mix should ensure greater variety [of innovative solutions].”

Working with, and not working to eliminate, the private sector is necessary for any health reform plan going forward.

Inflexbile single-payer supporters who fail to realize that will risk fading away into irrelevence.