Colorado Politics: Public option insurance bill to be presented Thursday

A press conference is scheduled at the state Capitol Thursday to roll out a bill creating Colorado's public option insurance plan, potentially the most controversial legislation of the session and the biggest strike on high health care costs delivered by Gov. Jared Polis.

Colorado Politics obtained a draft copy of the bill Tuesday from sources on both sides, with an agreement to hold the bill until it was officially announced.

There are few, if any surprises, however, based on information culled from months of reported negotiations among insurers, hospitals, drugmakers and patient advocates. Colorado Politics profiles in depth the potential impacts in a cover story, citing dozens of interviews and documents, in our print magazine for subscribers this weekend and online next week.

The public option would be a public-private insurance policy that offers below-current-market rates supported by price caps and other measures aimed at reducing costs for insurers and consumers. Hospitals and drugmakers would bear the brunt in reducing those prices. Polis and others advocates for lower heath care costs contend the industry has profited mightily without regulated competition in what they choose to charge those with private insurance.