Senate health bill costs pegged at $829 billion

A U.S. Senate Finance Committee health plan would cost $829 billion and cut the budget deficit by $81 billion over 10 years, nonpartisan budget analysts said on Wednesday in a report that could bolster President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform drive.

The preliminary estimate from the Congressional Budget Office also said the bill would reduce the number of uninsured people in the United States by about 29 million by 2019.

The bill would meet Obama’s push for a healthcare plan that does not increase the budget deficit, according to the CBO. The estimate could ease the way for committee approval of the measure in the next week.

“This is another important step forward for health reform,” White House spokesman Reid Cherlin said.

Republicans, saying they were concerned about the bill’s costs and potential impact on the budget deficit, had demanded the estimate before they cast a vote on the proposal to transform the $2.5 trillion healthcare system.

The bill, one of five pending in Congress on Obama’s top domestic priority, would require individuals to have health insurance and would offer subsidies to some people to help pay for it.

Insurers would face stiff new regulations — including a prohibition on rejecting coverage for people due to pre-existing medical conditions — and the bill would impose a tax on higher-cost insurance plans.

health bill , health bill  Health, health bill  Health Latest, health bill  Health Information, health bill  Health information, health bill  Health Photo,health bill for Weight Health photo, health bill  Health Latest, health bill  Health latest, Choreography for Weight  Health Story, health bill  Video, health bill video, health bill  Health History, health bill  Health history, health bill over Picture, history, health bill  Asia, health bill  asia, health bill   Gallery, health bill  for Weight gallery, health bill   Photo Gallery, health bill  Picture, health bill  picture, health bill  Web, Malaysia Health, web Health, web Health picture, video photo, video surgery, gallery, laparoscopy, virus, flu, drug, video, Health Health, calories, photo, nutrition, health video, symptoms, cancer, medical, beating, diet, physical, Training, organic, gym, blister, exercise, weightloss, surgery, spiritual, eating, tips, skin, operation, bf1,