Even though it no longer creates a government-run public option medical plan, Senate Democrats praised themselves for passing their so-called public option bill Wednesday. The measure, HB1232, originally called for creating a state-run public option to be offered on Coloradoâs health care exchange if insurance companies didnât, on their own, lower premiums 20% by the end of 2024. But because of so much pushback from medical providers and hospitals, the bill was altered to mandate that insurance carriers gradually lower premiums by 18% by 2025. The bill also calls on the stateâs commissioner of insurance to develop a standardized health insurance plan that private carriers would have to offer on the individual and small-group markets, and one that providers would have to accept.