Health care issues: A ‘trigger’ or ‘fallback’ plan as a compromise to public option

October 5th, 2009 Health care issues: Insurance market overhaulA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: Are changes in the insurance industry enough to fix problems in the nation's health care system? THE POLITICS: To help expand health coverage, President Barack Obama is seeking changes to underwriting practices that can prevent Americans from obtaining affordable insurance. His proposals would ban higher premiums, caps or denial of coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition or when a person gets sick.

September 30th, 2009 Health care issues: Insurance cooperativesA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: Are consumer-run co-ops a realistic alternative to a new government-run insurance option? THE POLITICS: The Democratic push for a government-run insurance plan to compete in the marketplace is running into brisk resistance in Congress. As a possible compromise, some lawmakers have proposed establishing nonprofit insurance co-ops instead of a public plan.

September 13th, 2009 GOP senator: Public option on health care is deadWASHINGTON — A Republican lawmaker says it's clear to him that the White House is ready to abandon a government-run public health insurance option. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says that President Barack Obama's address to Congress this past week was combative and showed little sign of compromise.

September 12th, 2009 Voices in the health care debateVoices in the health care debate: "You can't cut deals to change provisions if you're not going to vote for the bill in committee and you're not going to vote for the bill on the floor." — Alex Vachon, health care analyst and former Republican Senate aide, referring to a lack of GOP participation in crafting overhaul legislation. "I think that it solidified people who might have been wavering.

September 11th, 2009 Dems answer Obama's call for action on health careWASHINGTON — Democratic leaders wrestling with health care legislation are confronting a host of knotty issues such as medical malpractice, abortion, illegal immigrants and Medicaid, all the while predicting passage of sweeping health care legislation within a few months. "That's the legislative process," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said as she and other Democrats shifted from praising President Barack Obama's health care speech this week to the less glamorous task of trying to negotiate a bill that will pass muster with a host of opposing factions.

September 9th, 2009 Not-for-profit public option part of health planWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says a not-for-profit public option needs to be available as part of any health care overhaul. He says it would keep insurance companies honest.

September 8th, 2009 Health care issues: The public insurance planA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: Should Americans have the option of getting health insurance from a government plan that competes with private companies? THE POLITICS: Many Democrats want to do away with private insurance and replace it with something resembling Medicare coverage for all, but that's not politically feasible. Offering the choice of a government insurance plan was a compromise within the Democratic Party.

September 1st, 2009 Hoyer maintains support for public optionWALDORF, Md. — House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told cheering and jeering constituents Tuesday he still supports a public health insurance option as part of a health care overhaul.

August 31st, 2009 Sen. Grassley hopeful on limited health reformDES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley said Monday he remains hopeful a limited health care reform measure can be negotiated but a small group working on the issue agrees a government-run public option won't be part of a package.

August 30th, 2009 Kerry: Kennedy would compromise if necessaryWASHINGTON — A leading Democratic senator says the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy would have been ready to compromise on overhauling health care, but negotiations had not yet reached that point.

August 30th, 2009 Kerry: Compromise may be necessary but not yetWASHINGTON — A leading Democratic senator says backers of a public option in President Barack Obama's attempt to overhaul health care may need to compromise on the issue but adds that such a point hasn't been reached yet. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts suggested that compromise on the public option could become necessary if and when Democrats get to the point where they are not going to get there.

August 17th, 2009 Dean: Public option a must for health care reformWASHINGTON — Former Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean is arguing that there can be no meaningful overhaul of the health care system without a public option for coverage. A leading player in the party's liberal wing, Dean said in a nationally broadcast interview Monday he thinks providing a government role in insurance coverage is fair.

July 16th, 2009 GOP fails to strip public option from health billWASHINGTON — Republicans have failed to strip a government-run benefits plan from the House bill overhauling health care. The House Ways and Means Committee voted 25-15 on Thursday to keep the government-run option in the bill, rejecting an amendment by Wisconsin Republican Rep.

July 5th, 2009 Senators say compromise key to health care billWASHINGTON — It will take a compromise on a government option for insurance if the Senate is to agree on a health care overall before next month's break, two senators said Sunday. President Barack Obama is pushing for an Aug.

June 30th, 2009 Senate health panel readies gov't insurance optionWASHINGTON — Senators on a key committee are putting the finishing touches on a government health insurance option that they hope will win broad support among Democrats and the public. According to a draft summary circulating Tuesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee proposal calls for a nationwide plan to be run by the federal government.