"Nobody dies for lack of coverage."
Healthcare offers the cleanest difficulty curve in legislating. An insulin copay cap is concrete, sympathetic, and cheap on the fiscal note: the kind of bill that passes with both parties' fingerprints on it.
A state public option is the opposite: a structural challenge to the insurance market, opposed by the most sophisticated lobby in the building, with a fiscal note that becomes the entire debate.
Same issue, different ambition, and ambition is what the legislature makes you pay for.
"The Insulin Affordability Act"
Cap insured out-of-pocket insulin cost at $35/month.
"I skipped doses for a week to make rent. I ended up in the ER for three days."
"The Public Health Option Act"
Create a state-run health plan available on the exchange.
"I make too much for Medicaid, too little for real insurance. One accident and I'm done."