If there's one talking point that special-interest groups have overused in defense of maintaining the status quo in the health care system, it's that private insurers will have a difficult time competing with a publicly-administered insurance plan. On WTTW's Chicago Tonight Tuesday, the Campaign for Better Health Care's Jim Duffett on acknowledged "they're right." But that would be the industry's own fault, he argued, pointing to the higher administrative costs in the private industry and the exorbitant earnings expectations. Watch (full video here):

DUFFETT: A lot of the opposition against a public plan is saying there won't be a level playing field, and they're right. Because there won't be. Because he head of HHS [Health and Human Services] doesn't make $15 million or $20 million that the head of United Healthcare makes. And those costs are going to be contained much more effectively. [...]

I think [the public option] will force the private insurance industry to be more efficient then they are right now.  I mean, people want to complain about the Medicare system -- less than three cents of every dollar is spent on administrative costs.  My private insurance plan is proud to tell me that 17.4 cents are in administrative costs. It will force these guys in the private sector to be more efficient.