Senate bill may include public option

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Top Democrats are leaning toward including a publicly funded health insurance option in a healthcare reform bill in the U.S. Senate, sources said Thursday.

Following a meeting of Senate leaders and administration officials, two senior Democratic senators told CNN Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is leaning toward a government-run public option that states could opt out of, the sources said. Reid is preparing to take a healthcare bill to the full Senate.

Republicans and some conservative Democrats have consistently opposed a public option. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine -- the only Republican who has supported any healthcare reform proposal to date -- told CNN through a spokesman she opposes even a public option with an opt-out provision.

Democrats argue a non-profit public option would lower healthcare insurance costs through competition and make coverage more accessible. Opponents say a public option would eventually eliminate private health insurance and result in a government takeover of healthcare.

Congressional committees have approved five different versions of health care reform, and four of them include a public option.