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Senate Dems Shave $400B Off Health Care Bill

Plan charges employers who don't insure, has gov't option

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 2, 2009 8:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – Senate Democrats outlined a revised health care bill last night that lops $400 billion off the price tag of an earlier trillion-dollar proposal. The plan trims costs, the AP reports, by including a government-run insurance option to compete with private insurers and charging employers $750 annually for each employee not offered insurance through his job. The proceeds would be used to subsidize those who can't afford coverage.

The revised bill will extend coverage to around 97% of Americans—a higher percentage than the earlier bill—Sens. Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd write in a letter to Senate Health Committee members, obtained by the AP. The Congressional Budget Office has carefully reviewed our complete bill," write Dodd and Kennedy," and we are pleased to report that CBO has scored it at $611.4 billion over 10 years."

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. moves a stack of documents comprising the health care reform bill and its amendments during a meeting last month. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Sen. Ted Kennedy has been absent from the capital for weeks but him and his aides have remained heavily involved in the debate over the health care reform bill. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh )

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We must not settle for legislation that merely gestures at reform. We must deliver on the promise of true change.
- Sens. Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 18 comments

ChickenChopper

Jul 2, 2009 11:50 AM CDT

well, thank you, republicans, for overseeing the biggest expansion of government we could've imagined...the bush years

bacimom

Jul 2, 2009 9:10 AM CDT

Hospitals are mostly not for profit. I believe the same should be true for health insurers. Let them make enough income to cover costs and grow, but my premiums and what they pay the doctors shouldn't be influenced by the boards' and ceos' mcmansions.

JonmarkP

Jul 2, 2009 8:44 AM CDT

I would MUCH rather have the Government's hand in my pocket than the Consolidated Amalgamated Insurance Group's hand. At least the Government won't be making my coverage decisions based on their investor needs.

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health care • health insurance • Ted Kennedy • Senate Health Committee • Chris Dodd • health care reform

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Senate Dems Shave $400B Off Health Care Bill