Health Secretary Sebelius pitches public health insurance plan, saying it will lower costs

October 15th, 2009 Obama says lower costs aren't seen in health careNEW ORLEANS — Even though consumer prices have fallen in the past year, President Barack Obama says that's not the case for health care costs. Obama says that's one reason he wants people on Social Security to get a $250 payment to make up for the lack of an increase in their benefits next year.

September 13th, 2009 Sebelius: No abortion money in health overhaulWASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the president supports language in health overhaul legislation that explicitly prohibits money for abortions. Sebelius says President Barack Obama has made it clear that his health care goals do not include using public money to pay for abortions.

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 6th, 2009 White House: public health care plan is negotiableWASHINGTON — White House officials said Sunday a government health insurance option is negotiable, signaling a potential compromise on an issue that President Barack Obama's liberal supporters consider do-or-die. As Obama prepares for a Wednesday night speech to Congress in a risky bid to salvage his top domestic priority, political adviser David Axelrod said a public plan is not the core issue in the health care debate.

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 18th, 2009 Liberals push for public health insurance planWASHINGTON — Congressional liberals are telling the Obama administration that a health overhaul bill cannot pass unless it includes a new government-run insurance option. The Congressional Progressive Caucus, made up of more than 80 liberal House members, wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius expressing opposition to her weekend comments suggesting a public option was not essential to a health overhaul.

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.

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 12th, 2009 Sebelius: All options on table for health planWASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the administration wants a health care overhaul this year but is still leaving the details to Congress. Sebelius said on Sunday that a health care overhaul "needs to be owned by the House and the Senate" and won't be dictated by President Barack Obama.

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 16th, 2009 AP Interview: Sebelius says public plan to surviveWASHINGTON — The insurance lobby won't be able to block a public health plan because most Americans realize they would be better off if the industry had competition, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday as congressional committees worked to shape legislation. In an interview with The Associated Press, Sebelius said that President Barack Obama does not want to drive health insurers out of business, but make them more competitive by offering working families and small businesses the option of a public plan without the high overhead costs of marketing, administration and profits.

June 16th, 2009 AP INTERVIEW: Sebelius says coverage to take yearsWASHINGTON — Covering the uninsured could take several years, even if Congress passes a bill and President Barack Obama signs it into law this fall, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday. "Will something probably be phased in? You bet," Sebelius said in a question-and-answer session with The Associated Press.

June 12th, 2009 HHS' Sebelius touts Obama health insurance planOMAHA, Neb. — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Friday that Americans need a new government-sponsored insurance plan to guarantee choice and competition — especially in rural America.

April 29th, 2009 New Kan. gov after Sebelius confirmed for HHS jobTOPEKA, Kan. — Kathleen Sebelius has resigned as Kansas governor after winning confirmation as U.S.

March 3rd, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama Monday nominated Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as health secretary, his second choice for what will be a critical post in the new administration. Sebelius, who was once considered a possibility for vice president, will take the job after Obama's first pick Thomas Daschle was forced to withdraw amid a tax scandal.