The current discussions in the Senate over how to come to a compromise on the public option (which by the way takes a new shape about every two hours; with ideas bouncing from an “opt-in” option, to an “opt-out” option, to a “trigger” option, to a “reverse-trigger” option, to a “hammer” option, maybe next will be a “chisel” option?) may have finally reached a resting place. But the new “public option” compromise will not even include all of the public.

The newest compromise idea is to replace the public option all together and expand Medicare.  Sounds great at first, after all Medicare is the government-run, public plan that the idea of a new public option available to all Americans was based on in the first place. So the media and progressives, like Howard Dean, are getting pretty revved up about this idea to simply expand the already existing public plan because it brings us full circle in the public option debate.

But I ask a simple question: Am I missing something?! Because this “expansion” of Medicare will only be for those Americans ages 55 -64.  So the rest of us –including young adults who are the largest group of uninsured–  will be left out of this new “public” option replacement. I will note, though, that discussions also involve the expansion of Medicaid to low-income adults that make up to 150% of the Federal Poverty Level — this is an increase from what is currently in the Senate bill and will benefit many low-income Americans.

What about the rest of us? We will be given yet another compromise: non-profit insurance plans offered in the exchange, that will supposedly be similar to the plans currently offered to federal employees. But they might not be that similar to what is offered to federal employees, and may not necessarily reduce cost or create competition as a government run plan would have.

So either I am missing something, or Congress is missing the point –and leaving out young adults–once again. The saga contines.