Members of the North Carolina branch of the advocacy group Health Care For America Now are trying to rally support for the President's call for a public health insurance plan option.

In a press conference Wednesday, they released a national report that argues health insurance company mergers have led to a near-monopoly marketplace and skyrocketing premiums.

"A small number of large companies control everything, from what they charge to what benefits they offer," said Lynice Williams, a member of the group and executive director of North Carolina Fair Share.

Insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, which has 3.7 million members across the state, is also weighing in on government's role in healthcare reform -- on the opposite side.

"I think the best approach, the smartest approach for right now, is to build on the strengths of the employer-based system," said Lew Borman, spokesperson for the insurer.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina plans to launch a Web site on health care reform in the next few weeks, offering videos, links to information, and invitations to customers to share their thoughts.

Draft sketches of video storylines for the site question the effectiveness of government-run health care. One 30-second storyline features a receptionist telling a patient over the phone that the first available appointment for the government plan would be in two-and-a-half months. Another depicts a woman wondering if her sick husband would still be able to see their family doctor.