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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Obama unveils new healthcare plan | Obama unveils new healthcare plan |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama has unveiled new plans to advance legislation to overhaul the US healthcare system. | US President Barack Obama has unveiled new plans to advance legislation to overhaul the US healthcare system. |
| One of the key proposals gives the US government new power to block health insurers from imposing excessive premium increases. | One of the key proposals gives the US government new power to block health insurers from imposing excessive premium increases. |
| Mr Obama has made healthcare reform a centrepiece of his presidency, but has so far failed to get a new law passed. | Mr Obama has made healthcare reform a centrepiece of his presidency, but has so far failed to get a new law passed. |
| On Thursday, Mr Obama is to hold televised, bipartisan talks at the White House to discuss the issue. | On Thursday, Mr Obama is to hold televised, bipartisan talks at the White House to discuss the issue. |
| The proposal "helps over 31 million Americans afford healthcare who do not get it today - and makes coverage more affordable for many more," the White House said on its website. | |
| It gives the federal Health and Human Services Department - in conjunction with state authorities - the power to deny substantial premium increases, limit them, or demand rebates for consumers. | |
| I ask members of both parties to seek common ground in an effort to solve a problem that's been with us for generations Barack Obama Q&A: US healthcare reform Heath bills: House v Senate | I ask members of both parties to seek common ground in an effort to solve a problem that's been with us for generations Barack Obama Q&A: US healthcare reform Heath bills: House v Senate |
| Mr Obama's latest plan requires most Americans to carry health insurance coverage, with federal subsidies to help many afford the premiums. | Mr Obama's latest plan requires most Americans to carry health insurance coverage, with federal subsidies to help many afford the premiums. |
| It bars insurance companies from denying coverage to people with existing medical problems or charging them more. | It bars insurance companies from denying coverage to people with existing medical problems or charging them more. |
| A tax on high-cost health insurance plans objected to by House Democrats - and trade unions - is to be scaled back. | A tax on high-cost health insurance plans objected to by House Democrats - and trade unions - is to be scaled back. |
| Mr Obama says reform of the healthcare system is crucial for the US economy to rein in costs over the long term. | |
| The plan would put "our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100bn [£64.5bn] over the next 10 years - and more than $1tn [£644bn] over the second decade - by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse", he said. | |
| Bitter debate | Bitter debate |
| The Democrats' loss of a Senate seat in Massachusetts to Republican Scott Brown in January deprived them of their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate, although they still control both houses. | The Democrats' loss of a Senate seat in Massachusetts to Republican Scott Brown in January deprived them of their filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate, although they still control both houses. |
| Thursday's debate is seen as a key moment in Mr Obama's bid to pass new legislation, and comes after months of often bitterly-contested congressional debates. | Thursday's debate is seen as a key moment in Mr Obama's bid to pass new legislation, and comes after months of often bitterly-contested congressional debates. |
| Mr Obama referred to the talks in his weekly radio address on Saturday, saying: "I don't want to see this meeting turn into political theatre, with each side simply reciting talking points and trying to score political points. | Mr Obama referred to the talks in his weekly radio address on Saturday, saying: "I don't want to see this meeting turn into political theatre, with each side simply reciting talking points and trying to score political points. |
| "Instead, I ask members of both parties to seek common ground in an effort to solve a problem that's been with us for generations." | "Instead, I ask members of both parties to seek common ground in an effort to solve a problem that's been with us for generations." |
| The House of Representatives and the Senate adopted different versions of the bill at the end of last year, and they must now be combined into a single bill Mr Obama can sign into law. | The House of Representatives and the Senate adopted different versions of the bill at the end of last year, and they must now be combined into a single bill Mr Obama can sign into law. |