Obama's healthcare reforms passed
- 00:02:05
- ITN
Obama's healthcare reforms passed
President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare reforms have been passed by the US House of Representatives. The Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed the legislation, with a 220-215 vote in favour of the bill, with Republican opposition almost unanimous. The vote clears the way for the Senate to begin a long-delayed debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress. The legislation would require most Americans to carry insurance and provide federal subsidies to those who otherwise could not afford it. Large companies would have to offer coverage to their employees and both consumers and companies would be slapped with penalties if they defied the government's mandates. Insurance industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions would be banned, and insurers would no longer be able to charge higher premiums on the basis of gender or medical history. A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later, and Obama issued a statement saying, "I look forward to signing it into law by the end of the year."
ITN | November 8, 2009
