WASHINGTON (AP) - Senators trying to make health care more affordable want to let state governments negotiate basic coverage plans for some lower-income people.

The author of a measure on that subject, Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, said it's a form of a public plan, the government-run insurance option that has proven so controversial and was rejected this week by the Senate Finance Committee.

Cantwell's amendment would rely on the private sector.

The committee approved it 12 to 11 on Thursday.

The measure would apply to people who make up to twice the federal poverty level, about $44,000 for a family of four, but make too much to qualify for Medicare.

States could use federal subsidies to negotiate with private insurers to write coverage plans for those people.