Pelosi to unveil health bill with government option this morning

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is expected to unveil a house bill this morning that will require nearly all Americans sign up by 2013 for health insurance through their employer, a government program or a new kind of purchasing pool called an exchange.Pelosi, D-Calif., wants to have the legislation on the floor next week, with a final vote before Veterans Day, Nov. 11, that would give President Obama a bill to sign by year’s end.Tax credits would be available for most of those buying coverage through the exchange. They would have the option of picking a new government plan or private insurance.During the transition years from 2010-2013, a temporary government program would help people turned down by private insurers because of medical problems. After that, insurers no longer could refuse to provide coverage to the sick, nor could they charge more because of poor health of the insured.The plan also calls for a significant expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health program for low-income people. And it would impose a requirement on employers to offer insurance to their workers or face penalties. How does this all sound? Is this a trick…or a treat?GO!