The "Public Option" Lives

It seems like just days ago that the press was rife with stories that the so-called "public option" was dead, a result of uncompromising opposition from both republicans and moderate democrats in the US Senate. But growing fears of potentially higher costs of private health insurance after health care reform legislation is enacted, as well as lingering mistrust of health insurance companies are apparently reviving interest in the Senate in letting the government sell health insurance as part of reform. The insurance industry may have unwittingly helped the case for a "public option" by issuing a report last weekend asserting the bill being considered by the Senate Finance Committee would raise premiums for everyone, according to the Associated Press today.