CBO: House GOP health plan would reduce number of uninsured by only 3 million

October 26th, 2009 more images more imagesHealth care issues: Keeping what you haveA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: If I like the coverage I have, would I really be able to keep it if Washington changes the health care system? THE POLITICS: One of the underlying fears in the debate is that people with good insurance now will see changes they don't like in a new marketplace. Perhaps their plan would become even more expensive, or offer fewer benefits, or their employer would drop coverage in favor of other options for workers.

October 23rd, 2009 LA County OKs $300 billion transportation planLOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County's public transit system has approved a nearly $300 billion, 30-year plan to reduce gridlock in one of the nation's most congested areas. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's plan approved Thursday sets aside funding for bus and freeway improvements and to extend the subway system into West Los Angeles.

October 21st, 2009 Health care issues: Who's insured, and howA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: How many people have health insurance now, and how would that change if the system is overhauled? THE POLITICS: One of the driving causes behind the longtime effort to overhaul health care is the desire to reduce the number of families that lack health insurance. The number of people without insurance rose to 46.3 million in 2008, or about 15 percent of the population, according to the Census Bureau.

October 6th, 2009 Health care issues: Medicare cutsA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: Will seniors' Medicare benefits be slashed to pay for health care overhaul? THE POLITICS: Democrats are proposing to reduce the ballooning costs of Medicare to keep the program solvent. They want to root out waste to find the savings, and to reduce payments to some providers.

September 10th, 2009 Growth of gov't insurance outpaces private careWASHINGTON — The number of Americans covered by government-sponsored health insurance plans surged to 87.4 million last year — or 29 percent of the U.S. population — amid a fierce, national debate about whether to create a new U.S.-run plan that any American could join.

September 10th, 2009 Census: Uninsured rises to 46.3 millionWASHINGTON — The number of Americans without health insurance rose to 46.3 million last year as people began losing jobs and coverage in the current recession. The poverty rate hit 13.2 percent, an 11-year high.

September 10th, 2009 Number of uninsured rises to 46.3 millionWASHINGTON — The number of Americans without health insurance rose to 46.3 million last year as people began losing jobs and coverage in the current recession. The poverty rate hit 13.2 percent, an 11-year high.

August 20th, 2009 Pelosi: House health bill needs public planSAN FRANCISCO — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says there's no way the House can pass a health overhaul bill that doesn't include a new public insurance plan. Her comments at a news conference Thursday in San Francisco come as the White House faces a liberal backlash for indicating openness to leaving a public plan out of a final health bill.

August 16th, 2009 Sebelius: Public insurance option not essentialWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's health secretary is suggesting the White House is ready to accept nonprofit insurance cooperatives instead of a government-run public option in a health overhaul plan. A Republican senator says that is worth looking at.

August 5th, 2009 Health care debate: How many actually uninsured?WASHINGTON — It's a central goal of the president's plan: Extending health care coverage to the millions of Americans who lack it. Question is, just how many million are uninsured? The answer could make a huge difference in the billions of dollars it will cost to remake the national system.

July 14th, 2009 House health plan requires insurance coverageWASHINGTON — House Democrats want to require individuals and employers to get health insurance — or pay a penalty. For individuals, the penalty would be 2.5 percent of income — but it could go no higher than the average cost of health insurance.

July 2nd, 2009 New Dem health plan has public option, lower costWASHINGTON — Democrats on a key Senate Committee outlined a revised and far less costly health care plan Wednesday night that includes a government-run insurance option and an annual fee on employers who do not offer coverage to their workers. The plan carries a 10-year price tag of slightly over $600 billion, and would lead toward an estimated 97 percent of all Americans having coverage, according to the Congressional Budget Office, Sens.

July 1st, 2009 CDC: Private health care coverage at 50-year-lowATLANTA — The percentage of Americans with private health insurance has hit its lowest mark in 50 years, according to two new government reports. About 65 percent of non-elderly Americans had private insurance in 2008, down from 67 percent the year before, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the U.S.

June 25th, 2009 Obama says insurers profit with his health planWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says insurance companies will make less profit on each patient if he gets his health care overhaul. But Obama says they'll make it up because they'll have more paying customers when the uninsured sign up for coverage.

June 14th, 2009 Durbin: US already paying 'hidden' health taxesWASHINGTON — A top Democratic lawmaker says Americans are already paying a "hidden tax" to provide health care for the uninsured. The Illinois Democrat who is his party's No.