[...] Though I do not share the fear of a direct government insurance plan, if it’s a political showstopper, then there needs to be a compromise that can still keep other insurance companies honest.  Accordingly, Senator Conrad has proposed that the health plan be administered by a cooperative owned by policyholders. It’s a business model that other health insurers use, many of which behave exactly like their corporate brethren, skinflinting patients with the best of them.  Some provide the savings to their members through rebates, and others simply pump up executive pay and fly themselves to tropical vacations. [...]