Reply #2: As I understand, the latest version is only available to the currently uninsured

[Blue State Blues]

and with opt-out, that will be only in certain states. So, no, it's not the Public Option that progressives were sold, or that pollsters talk about when they ask people, "Do you want a Public Option."

On the up side, if they keep the rates as "Medicare Plus 5" it will be in a much stronger position than if it had to negotiate rates with that small of a number of members. On the other hand, I think it's still premium-supported and self-financing, so having a relatively small number of members severely limits the ability to lower premiums by spreading the risk around ...

But no matter how small it is, the opposition fights it as the potential start of something. The private insurance company who gets a contract to administer it, would probably rather have tax-payer subsidies going toward their own for-profit policies with a strong penalty for failure to buy one of their policies at whatever price they care to set.