Health care bill passes with public option

November 7, 10:16 PMSalt Lake City Headlines ExaminerMarci Stone

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The House of Representatives passed the health care bill with a vote of 220-215 on Saturday. Health insurance coverage will cost 894 billion dollars according to Democrats, but will most likely cost over 1 trillion dollars once all provisions are included.  The public option will be available in 2013, and illegal immigrants will not be covered. 

As part of the public option of the health care bill, federal funds will not be available for abortion services or in the insurance “exchange” the bill will create; this excludes cases of rape, incest or if the mother's life is in danger. The vote passed 240-194 and was strongly supported by Republicans.

In a speech on Saturday, President Obama said that members of the House face the chance of a lifetime. The president said he told lawmakers that "opportunities like this come around maybe once in a generation."

"This is their moment, this is our moment, to live up to the trust that the American people have placed in us," Obama said. "Even when it's hard, especially when it's hard, this is our moment to deliver."
A Democratic aide quoted the president who said he was "absolutely confident" that they would pass the legislation.

"When I sign this in the rose garden, each and every one of you will be able to look back and say, 'This was my finest moment in politics,'" the aide quoted Obama.

The bill passed Saturday will extend insurance coverage to 36 million Americans who currently do not have coverage. A limit will be placed on annual out-of-pocket expenses, and insurance companies will be prevented from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.

On Thursday, President Obama welcomed the support of the AARP and the AMA for the health care bill.  The AARP has 40 million members and is one of the largest groups to support the bill.  For more on that story, click here.

Sources: CNN live and CNN

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