The Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has just released its proposed public option for health insurance and, according to Igor Volsky of the Center for American Progress Wonk Room blog, it does not piggyback on Medicare but is similar to the stand-alone insurance company model proposed by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY). Volsky concludes it would still be able to drive down costs over time. Hard to see, given that it wouldn't be any different from any other non-profit insurer already in the marketplace, such Blue Cross Blue Shield, for instance.