July 1, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrats on a key Senate committee are
circulating details of a revised health care plan that includes a
government-backed insurance option and a fee on employers if they
do not offer coverage to their workers.

In a letter to members of the HELP Committee, the backers of the
plan say it will result in 97 percent of Americans having health
coverage, at a net cost of slightly over $600 billion over the next
10 years. That's far less than an earlier $1 trillion estimate from
the Congressional Budget Office in mid-June.

A description of the plan was sent to committee members in a
letter Wednesday night from Sens. Edward M. Kennedy of
Massachusetts and Chris Dodd of Connecticut. The Associated Press
obtained a copy.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)