AP Source: Health care bill will leave 94 percent of eligibles covered at cost of $849 billion

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AP source: Reid’s health bill to cover 31 million

WASHINGTON — Health care legislation heading for the Senate floor this week would extend coverage to 31 million uninsured Americans at a cost of $849 billion over a decade, a Democratic leadership aide said Wednesday, citing a report from congressional budget experts.

As rank-and-file Democrats gathered to learn details of the long-awaited bill, the aide also said the Congressional Budget Office had estimated the legislation would reduce federal deficits by a total of $127 billion over that decade.

The aide said the budget agency also projected that if enacted, the legislation would leave 94 percent of eligible individuals with coverage. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity because the bill’s full details had not yet been shared with Democratic lawmakers.

The political stakes were enormous as Majority Leader Harry Reid summoned fellow Democrats to a closed-door meeting to brief them on the legislation. It is being crafted to fulfill President Barack Obama’s goal of expanding coverage to the uninsured, banning industry practices such as denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and slowing the growth of health care costs nationwide.