Washington, D.C. – Ten senators today stood strong for the public health insurance option and for giving Americans a guarantee of quality, affordable health coverage.

The fact that a public option amendment offered by Sen. Chuck Schumer attracted 10 out of 13 votes in committee bodes well for the upcoming debates on the Senate floor and in the House, said USAction Program Director Alan Charney. “We look forward to a robust debate on the Senate floor and we look forward to passage of legislation in the House that includes a public health insurance option,” Charney said.

“Several Democrats and all of the committee’s Republicans today voted to give the private health insurance industry a government-subsidized monopoly on health coverage which will only lead to higher costs, more denials of care and an increase in insurance company profits,” Charney said. “No public health insurance option also means less choice for consumers. Senators have taken millions of dollars in contributions from the insurance industry, and today the industry was paid back – with interest.”

Charney commended the Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee who stood strong for the public health insurance option. “We hope these senators not only will continue to push for a public option, but also will vote in favor of responsible ways to pay for health care reform – including raising revenue from the very wealthiest Americans who greatly benefited from the Bush tax cuts of the past eight years,” he said.

He added that the “co-op” proposal currently in the Baucus legislation will do nothing to provide the necessary competition with the private insurance industry to keep costs down and make health insurance more affordable.

USAction and its 24 state affiliates are part of Health Care for America Now, the nation’s largest health care reform campaign. USAction Executive Director Jeff Blum serves as co-chair of HCAN’s steering committee. USAction and HCAN, along with HCAN’s partners in labor and MoveOn.org, are organizing a national day of action targeting the insurance industry’s massive profits next Tuesday, Oct. 6.