The changes Congress is considering would protect Medicare for today's seniors and for future generations, so all Americans can have the health coverage they need when they retire.

Brianna Keilar
WANE.con
Nov 9, 2009

(CNN) - After months of disinformation and confusion from big health and their lobbyists, it was time for praise from the President for taking a historic step closer to health reform.

"Moments like this are why they sent us here, to finally meet the challenges that Washington has put off for decades, to make their lives better and this Nation stronger."

Democrats cheered when the final vote was tallied. And after the vote, the leader of the republican national committee came out swinging against the bill's Government-run insurance plan.

"This is a Government takeover of our health care system. It is unnecessary."

The bill would extend insurance coverage to 36 million uninsured Americans. It would create a Government-run insurance program and require every American to buy insurance or pay a fine.

Businesses with payrolls more than 500,000 dollars would be required to offer employees insurance or pay a fine. It would expand Medicaid and give Federal subsidies to help low income and middle class Americans buy insurance.

Most importantly, the bill would also stop insurance companies from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition or dropping people when they get sick

"The message was clear. It's time to begin to fix what has been a broken health care system for millions of Americans."

Non partisan congressional number crunchers estimate the house version would cost nearly 1-point-1 trillion dollars over 10 years.

Cuts to Medicare and tax increases on wealthy Americans would pay for the provision. 39 democrats voted against the bill, and only one republican voted for it.

Nancy pelosi last night said they were answering the call of history. I've got to tell you, if Republicans keep ignoring the american people, their party is going to be history in about a year."

While this is a big step in health care reform for the democrats, they still have some major hurdles to overcome. Senator Harry Reid says he will bring a bill to the senate floor as soon as possible.

What will be in that bill still remains to be seen. Senator Lindsey Graham said yesterday that if it's anything like the bill the House just passed it will be "dead on arrival."

Brianna Keilar reports from Washington on this historic change the Obama administration is trying to accomplish, in this internet health video report.