Should the plan for healthcare reform have the public option or not, and why?

From my understanding, the public option is basically having the choice to either use government funded insurance, stay with private insurance, or use no insurance at all. Personally, having had worked jobs where there were no benefits and the job itself did not pay me enough to afford private insurance, I’m all for some kind of healthcare availability. Especially, for those who currently have no options or those who pay private insurers who refuse to deliver when coverage needed or discriminate against buyers because of pre-existing conditions. I thought equal access was a civil right.