Death of the public option?

Approximately 46 million Americans are unable to afford health insurance, and tens of thousands of Americans die annually as a result. After much caterwauling by Republicans and some Democrats, the government-run public option for low-income Americans appears to be dead.

The new idea is for non-profit insurance options that will be administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). That seems like a more convoluted solution, and it would still leave out more people than a public option. They are non-profit options, but they will still require people to pay money to cover costs (which was a major point of contention with regards to the public option... the use of taxpayer money).

It's mildly better than nothing, but somehow, I suspect that tens of millions of Americans will still be left without health care in the end... Minimally-costing health insurance may still be too expensive for some people.

Hopefully, health care reform will arrive in the U.S. to the benefit to everyone, rich and poor, in the future. A triggered public option, in case insurance companies don't participate in the network of OPM-managed insurers, is still on the table. For now, though, it looks like incremental progress seems all that is possible.

Peace and long life.