Oregon Public Broadcasting

A large bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives reintroduced a bill Wednesday modeled on Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden's proposal for universal health coverage.  Katie Arrants reports.

The Healthy Americans Act would mandate health coverage for all Americans and put an end to employer-based health insurance. Instead, employees would get extra pay to spend on a health plan.

The government would subsidize care for the poor.

Oregon Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Darlene Hooley, and David Wu were on hand to reintroduce the measure in Washington DC.

Hooley says she hopes the bill will be a top priority in 2009.

Darlene Hooley: “It is a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legislation, and we understand we’re not going to get it passed this year, but we’re hoping that it will be ready to go, in the inbox, and it will the first thing that the new president looks at.”

Lawmakers say the bill's market-based approach could lead to lower insurance rates and more comprehensive coverage.

Independent analysts say the plan could save almost $1.5 trillion over ten years and eventually it could create surpluses.