HHS secretary says Obama open to ideas on health overhaul, but not deficit spending

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told lawmakers Wednesday that President Barack Obama is willing to listen to suggestions on how to pay for a health care overhaul, as long as they don’t increase the deficit.

Obama-industry confrontation looms over what role government should play in health care

WASHINGTON — Even as President Barack Obama and the insurance industry move toward open confrontation over the role of government in health care, his administration is telling lawmakers to keep pushing for a bipartisan deal.

Analysis: Obama barks back at insurance industry critics; bite remains uncertain

WASHINGTON — Even for a Democratic president, Barack Obama’s challenge to health insurance companies and free market principles Tuesday were unusually pointed.

Obama fires back at insurers’ charges that govt plan would “take over” health care

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday squared off with the insurance lobby over industry charges that a government health plan he backs would dismantle the employer coverage Americans have relied on for a half-century and overtake the system.

Insurers warn government plan would “dismantle” employer coverage

WASHINGTON — The insurance industry Tuesday laid down a marker on health care, warning in stark terms that a proposed government insurance plan would dismantle the employer coverage Americans have relied on for a half century and overtake the system.

Industry pledge to narrow drug coverage gap contingent on health care overhaul

WASHINGTON — Hailed by President Barack Obama, a multi-billion-dollar promise by drug companies to narrow a Medicare drug coverage gap for seniors is valid only if Congress succeeds in passing a comprehensive health care bill encountering strong opposition from Republicans, an industry spokesman said Monday.

No health care coverage? Expect the next government effort to require that you get it

WASHINGTON — Don’t have health insurance? Don’t want to pay for it? Too bad.

Drug companies would pay for some Medicare prescriptions under $80 billion deal

WASHINGTON — The pharmaceutical industry agreed Saturday to spend $80 billion over the next decade improving drug benefits for seniors on Medicare and defraying the cost of President Barack Obama’s health care legislation, capping secretive negotiations involving key lawmakers and the White House.

AP INTERVIEW: HHS Sec. Sebelius says insurers won’t prevail in blocking public health plan

WASHINGTON — 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.

Senators see possible compromise on key issue in health care debate

WASHINGTON — A potential compromise emerged Wednesday on one of the most vexing issues of the health care overhaul debate — whether to create a new government-sponsored health plan to compete with private insurers.

GOP senators say chances dimming for bipartisan health deal after Obama endorses public plan

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s hopes for a bipartisan health deal took a hit Thursday as GOP senators protested a letter he wrote declaring support for a public insurance plan.

Obama provides first deals for his road map to universal health care

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he’s open to requiring all Americans to buy health insurance, as long as the plan provides a “hardship waiver” to exempt poor people from having to pay.

Obama wants public plan, waiver for the poor in sweeping universal health care bill

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, providing the first real details on how he wants to reshape the nation’s health care system, urged Congress on Wednesday toward a sweeping overhaul that would allow Americans to buy into a government insurance plan.

Obama wants additional cuts in Medicare, Medicaid to help pay for overhauling health care

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Wednesday he wants at least $200 billion cut from Medicare and Medicaid spending over the next decade to help pay for overhauling the nation’s health care system and providing coverage to 50 million uninsured Americans.

Health care industry delivers savings plan to White House

WASHINGTON — Health industry officials delivered a plan to the White House Monday documenting how they’ll attempt to save $2 trillion over a decade through measures like reducing hospitalizations and cutting down on paperwork.

House Speaker Pelosi: Legislation overhauling health care system to go to floor by late July

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has assured President Barack Obama that legislation undertaking an overhaul of the health care system will be on the House floor before the August recess.

Senators weigh limits _ but not elimination _ of tax-free status of employer health care

WASHINGTON — Senators are considering limiting — but not eliminating — the tax-free status of employer-provided health benefits to help pay for President Barack Obama’s plan to provide coverage to 50 million uninsured Americans.

Senators weigh limits on tax-free status of employer health care

WASHINGTON — Senators are considering limiting — but not eliminating — the tax-free status of employer-provided health benefits to help pay for President Barack Obama’s plan to provide coverage to 50 million uninsured Americans.

Obama’s praises the health care industry’s pledge to cut $2 trillion in costs over 10 years

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama praised the health care industry’s promise to cut $2 trillion in costs over 10 years Monday, taking a sharply different course than President Bill Clinton did 16 years ago in an opening bid to overhaul the U.S. health system.

Health care industry pledge to slow spending leaves questions, critics

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama praised the health care industry’s promise to cut $2 trillion in costs over 10 years, but lawmakers questioned how much it really helps in coming up with a solution for the millions of uninsured.

Health care industry pledge to slow spending leaves questions, critics

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama praised the health care industry’s promise to cut $2 trillion in costs over 10 years Monday, taking a sharply different course than President Bill Clinton did 16 years ago in an opening bid to overhaul the U.S. health system.

AP source: Medical providers offer Obama administration $2 trillion in health care savings

WASHINGTON — Top representatives of the health care industry plan to offer $2 trillion in cost reductions over 10 years in a bid to help pass President Barack Obama’s health overhaul, a source familiar with the negotiations said Sunday.

Senators weigh 3 different designs for a new government health insurance plan, officials say

WASHINGTON — Senators are considering three different designs for a new government health insurance plan that middle-income Americans could buy into for the first time, congressional officials said Friday. Officials familiar with the proposals said senators plan to debate them in a closed meeting next week. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the controversial plans have not been released.

Health insurers offer to stop charging more to women if all Americans required to get care

WASHINGTON — The health insurance industry offered Tuesday to end its practice of charging higher premiums to women.