House health plan would require individuals and employers to get insurance coverage

October 9th, 2009 A look at Congress' legislative languageHere's a look at how three issues are described in the legislative language of the House's initial health care bill compared with the "conceptual" — or plain English — language used by the Senate Finance Committee. The issues are: Coverage for pre-existing conditions and denial of coverage; a requirement for all individuals to obtain health insurance; and how subsidies to help low-income people purchase insurance are distributed.

September 30th, 2009 A look at the Senate Finance health care billThe Senate Finance Committee pushed ahead Wednesday on a comprehensive health care bill. The panel hopes to finish the legislation by week's end.

September 24th, 2009 Health care issues: Shopping for insuranceA look at key issues in the nation's health care debate: THE ISSUE: Is there an easier, more transparent way for consumers to shop for health insurance? THE POLITICS: Most Americans under age 65 get insurance coverage through their employers. Small-business employers, however, increasingly find policies unaffordable.

September 9th, 2009 Individuals would have to carry health insuranceWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says individuals would be required to carry basic health insurance under his overhaul plan and businesses would have to offer workers health care or pay for part of insurance cost for their workers. Obama said those who could not afford coverage would have a hardship waiver, and 95 percent of all small businesses would be exempt because of their size and narrow profit margin.

September 9th, 2009 FACT CHECK: Obama drops iffy line on health planWASHINGTON — The change was subtle, but significant. In his speech to Congress on Wednesday night, President Barack Obama gave a more accurate — and less reassuring — account of the impact of his proposed health care overall than he has done in the past.

September 8th, 2009 A look at Baucus health care planA look at a health care overhaul plan from Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., under discussion by six senators on the Finance Committee.

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.

July 29th, 2009 House Republicans unveil $700B health care planWASHINGTON — House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a $700 billion health care plan that would offer tax credits to help people buy insurance, yet unlike Democratic proposals, wouldn't require either individuals or employers to get coverage. Some of the ideas in the plan appeal to moderate Democrats, but with Republicans out of power, there's little likelihood their proposal will be enacted.

July 16th, 2009 A breakdown of the cost of the House health billA trio of House committees began work Thursday on $1.5 trillion, 10-year legislation from the Democrats that would fundamentally reshape the nation's health care system. It would require everyone to have health insurance and make employers provide it or pay a penalty; subsidize the poor to help them buy care; and create a new public insurance plan modeled after Medicare to compete with private insurance companies.

July 16th, 2009 A look at the Senate health committee billA look at the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee: WHO'S COVERED: Aims to cover 97 percent of Americans. COST: About $615 billion over 10 years, but it's only one piece of a larger Senate bill.

July 15th, 2009 A look at the House Democrats' health billHere are details on the House Democrats' health care overhaul bill. Two House committees — Ways and Means and Education and Labor — finished their portions of the $1.5 trillion, 10-year bill on Friday.

July 6th, 2009 Gov't plan would offer cut-rate medical premiumsWASHINGTON — What if a new health plan set up shop in your town offering coverage at a much lower price than other insurers? If you could save $2,500 on the $12,700 it costs for an average family plan through an employer, would you take it? That's not small change. Now what if the government offered that deal? Would your employer take it? Americans may not yet have to choose if they'd be better off with government coverage, but lawmakers will be grappling with the consequences of such a decision when they return Monday after a weeklong July 4th break.

June 19th, 2009 House Dems unveil full coverage health care planWASHINGTON — House Democrats say virtually all of the nation's 50 million uninsured people will be able to get coverage through their health plan. Democrats introduced their plan Friday, saying they will move quickly to get it through committee and to the House floor.

May 14th, 2009 House Democrats weigh major health care changesWASHINGTON — House Democrats are looking at big health care changes, including federal aid to help families earning up to $88,000 pay for insurance and a requirement that all must carry coverage. A document obtained by The Associated Press shows the plan being written by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would also require employers to offer coverage to their full-time workers, or pay a percentage of their payroll to the government.

May 14th, 2009 House Democrats consider aid for health insuranceWASHINGTON — House Democrats are looking at big health care changes, including federal aid to help families earning up to $88,000 pay for insurance and a requirement that all must carry coverage. A document obtained by The Associated Press shows the plan being written by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would also require employers to offer coverage to their full-time workers, or pay a percentage of their payroll to the government.