Bob Graham, Executive Editor

Drip, drip, drip.

The faucet to the nation’s health plans is leaking. Health insurance companies continue to make big concessions to Congress, offering up previously non-negotiable aspects of their health insurance model, in the hopes of halting any plans for a public-only health insurance system, according to an IFAwebnews.com article.

It’s survival mode for America’s Health Insurance Plans, which represents 1,500 managed care companies, serving 200 million Americans. First, the group said it would support a “coverage-for-all” option, despite pre-existing conditions, for a universal health mandate. Now, it is pledging to end higher premiums for women as talks of a government-run insurance plan progress.

Before long, it will offer to give up collecting fees in return for retaining its name.

These concessions show how seriously the nation’s health care companies are about ensuring that a public-health insurance model isn’t the final result of Congress’ health care reform package.

Drip, drip, drip. Leaky faucets always require costly repairs in the end. This situation will be no different.