US - health care

House passes Obama health plan

Article published on the 2009-11-08 Latest update 2009-11-08 17:07 TU

U.S. President Barack Obama walks out from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington to make a statement on health care on Saturday
(Photo: Reuters)

The US House of Representatives on Saturday approved an overhaul of US health care, by voting 220 in favour and 215 against. US President Barack Obama, speaking after the bill passed, described the vote as "historic" and said the law would extend health coverage to about 36 million Americans. He said he was confident that the US Senate would pass the bill.

If the Senate approves a different version of the bill, a compromise will have to be found.

The House of Representatives had 219 Democrats and one Republican support the bill, while 39 Democrats voted against it.

Obama had visited Congress on Saturday and made a speech from the White House later in the day to bolster support for the plan. If the health care bill comes into law it will provide for a government-backed insurance plan that will compete with private firms.

This would also end the denial of health coverage to those with pre-existing medical problems. On its way to passing the bill, the House of Representatives voted to impose restrictions on government funding for abortion, a move that was necessary to ensure the support of some anti-abortion Democrats.

Another vote defeated an alternative Republican health plan.