Congressional Republicans — as well as some Democrats — are butting heads with President Barack Obama and his congressional allies over the latter group’s desire for a “public option” in health care. This new government-run insurance program would theoretically compete against the 1,300 private insurance companies already in existence as part of an effort to lower overall health costs.

By most estimates, though, such a plan would cost billions of dollars and, according to the Lewin Group, result in as many as 119 million Americans dropping their private insurance coverage over the next decade.

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