The Senate Finance Committee passed its version of health care legislation without a public option Tuesday.
Only one Republican, Sen. Cynthia Snow of Maine, joined the committee's 13 Democrats to pass the legislation in a 14-9 vote.
Andre Koop, a biology junior, wasn't supportive of the committee's bill, but was glad it didn't include a public option.
"I'm against the public option because it would take away freedom from the doctors," Koop said.
Nearly 63 percent of physicians support a public option, according to a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation study.
Health care reform now falls into the hands of Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who will merge the Finance Committee's bill with the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee's proposal, which includes a public option.
Cynthia Braasch, a UF sophomore, hopes the final version has a public option.
Her father was provided insurance though his work, but for many years of her life, she and her siblings went uncovered due to cost.
"Everyone deserves health care," Braasch said. "I think it's a right."
Democrats, with the independents who caucus with them, have 60 members in the senate, enough to block a filibuster. However, some, like Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said they will not vote for a final bill similar to the Finance Committee's.
According to a press release issued by the committee's chairman, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., the committee's proposal prevents insurance companies from discriminating against people based on health status, denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions or imposing annual caps or lifetime limits on coverage.
The bill would also establish a mandate for most legal residents to obtain health insurance and significantly expand eligibility for Medicaid.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office determined the bill would result in an $81 billion net reduction in the federal budget deficit.
Some Democrats and Republicans are unhappy with a new tax included in the bill.
Cadillac Insurance Plans, those with premiums costing more than $8,000 for individuals and $21,000 for families, would be taxed.
