New health plan will have the same overseer as Members of Congress, but definitely not the same benefits or costs

You'll keep hearing that the Senate bill, in lieu of a public option, has established a new program to be administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the federal entity that oversees health insurance for members of Congress, their staffs and other federal employees (the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.) In fact, talking points from the Majority Leader's office tout that point:

Health insurers will offer national plans to Americans under the supervision of the Office of Personnel Management, the same entity that oversees health plans for Members of Congress.

Sounds good. But, don't be fooled. Yes, it's the same overseer. But, the treatment for members of Congress vs. those who need the new insurance plans will be very, very different:

Under Mr. Reid’s amendment, the federal Office of Personnel Management, which provides health benefits to federal employees, would sign contracts with insurers to offer at least two national health plans to individuals, families and small businesses. At least one contract would have to be with a nonprofit entity.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies could offer a single national plan. The new national plans would be separate from the program for federal employees, and premiums would be calculated separately.

Indeed, the Senate bill insures that the programs are kept separate:

The details were revealed Saturday through a "Manager's Amendment," offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The amendment specifies that OPM cannot reduce the staffing or funding which currently goes toward administering FEHBP in order to meet this new responsibility. It requires OPM to maintain seperate risk pools for FEHBP and the "multi-state plans," as they're called--which means that the legislation wouldn't affect benefits or premiums for FEHBP enrollees.

Can't let the masses muck up the insurance for those who receive benefits paid for by the masses. The new plan will not only be separate, it will be unequal.

How many times do you think Mary Landrieu has ever had to call her insurance company to complain about a denial of coverage? Do you think Joe Lieberman ever had to call his insurance company to fight because the insurer wouldn't pay a bill? That never happens to them. But, none of us will get that level of service. We'll just continue paying for it.