Final outcomes of U.S. health care systems

Congress took a historic step toward overhauling the founder U. S. health-care system yesterday; when Democrats on a key Senate committee - backed by a lone Republican moderate - approved compromise legislation aimed at extend medical coverage to most Americans.

But after months of backroom bartering, the big issue in the politically charged debate remains unresolved - the fate of a government-run insurance option endorsed by President Barack Obama.

Mr. Obama has good reason to remain cautious about the final outcomes of the health-care debate.

The Senate finance committee was the last of five congressional panels to finish the work on the legislation, marking the first time in decades Congress has come this close to producing such far-reaching health-care legislation.

In the more liberal House of Representatives, the Democratic leadership is almost certain to include a public-insurance option in a last version of three competing bills approved at a lower level.

People who refuse to buy insurance could face maximum fines of US$750 an adult and US$1,900 a family, though the harshest penalties are delayed until 2017.