Gaps for consumers in Democrat health care bills

Durbin and Lieberman

For consumers, the health care bills taking final shape in Congress don't rate close to a perfect 10.

More from this series:

• Landmark health bill narrowly passes House; Senate to begin debate
  The Democratic-controlled House has narrowly passed landmark health care reform legislation, handing President Barack Obama a hard won victory on his signature domestic priority.
• Bachmann leads rally opposing health plan
  Thousands of protesters gathered at the U.S. Capitol and chanted "Kill the bill."
• Doctors' group supports House health care bill
  The American Medical Association says it supports the House Democratic health care bill, but it can't give a full endorsement yet.
• House Dems push for votes on health bill
  House Democrats are scrambling to secure enough support to pass President Barack Obama's historic health overhaul initiative, working to soothe last-minute concerns from rank-and-file Democrats ahead of a make-or-break vote.
• Goldman Sachs, Citigroup got swine flu vaccine
  Some of New York's biggest companies, including Wall Street giants Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, received doses of swine flu vaccine for at-risk employees, drawing criticism that the hard-to-find vaccine is going first to the privileged.
• Democrats' plan to help 'uninsurables' questioned
  You're afraid your cancer is back, and a health insurance company just turned you down. Under the health care bills in Congress, you could apply for coverage through a new high-risk pool that President Barack Obama promises would immediately start serving patients with pre-existing medical problems. Wait a second. Read the fine print. You may have to be uninsured for six months to qualify.
• House Dems in final push on health care
  The House is steaming toward a historic vote on President Barack Obama's remake of the U.S. health care system, with Democratic leaders increasingly confident and the powerful seniors' lobby AARP about to get on board.
• Losing jobs costs more their health coverage
  About 45,700 working-age Minnesotans are projected to have lost their health insurance so far this year because they lost their jobs, according to a report released today by the Washington-based consumer group Families USA.
• Minnesota jumps into DC lobbying scrum on health care
  The Mayo Clinic, UnitedHealth Group, Medtronic and St. Jude are among those making their presence felt in Washington.
• Mandated healthcare in Massachusetts
  Star Tribune reporter, Chen May Yee traveled to Massachusetts to see if their brand of mandated healthcare works. Is this a plan we could see on a national level?
• Fact check: Some Obama health care stories flawed
  One of President Barack Obama's health care "horror stories" is about a woman who, he says, lost her health insurance on the verge of breast cancer surgery because she didn't disclose a case of acne to the insurer. That's not what happened.
• In Massachusetts: A model many are watching
  Massachusetts, which in 2006 mandated coverage for all, is an experiment in reform.
• Collin Peterson's Blue Dogs bark at 'public option'
  The Minnesota Democrat and allies defy their party over health care.
• 14-foot-tall vampire illustrates view of one physicians' group
  ''Count Bleed-ya-dry,'' representing insurers, and an Uncle Sam puppet didn't quite get their point across.
• "The time for games is passed"
  About 17,000 people packing Target Center roared their approval again and again at a rally reminiscent of Obama's run-up to the presidency last year. Minneapolis was the first stop in what some regard as Obama's final and crucial push to make a deal with Congress.
• Photo gallery: President Obama speaks at Target Center
  The president came to Minneapolis to speak at what was billed as a "health care reform rally. "
• Pawlenty: 10th Amendment might let states sidestep health care changes
  Gov. Tim Pawlenty has ratcheted up his criticism of President Obama's health care overhaul plan, invoking states' rights as a way to avoid implementing whatever might become law.
• Obama hopes his pitch will sway debate
  President Barack Obama's leadership in the days ahead will determine whether his forceful health care address to Congress heralds the kind of sweeping change he promised while campaigning for the White House.
• Video: S.C. Rep. Wilson yells 'You lie' at Obama
  
• Poll: What did you think of Obama's speech?
  
• Obama to speak at Target Center on Saturday
  President Obama's appearance in the Twin Cities will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Target Center. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. for the free event.
• Poll: What's the top priority?
  What is most needed in the way of health care reform?
• Obama hopes his pitch will sway debate
  President Barack Obama's leadership in the days ahead will determine whether his forceful health care address to Congress heralds the kind of sweeping change he promised while campaigning for the White House.
• Speech is at 7 p.m., but "pre-buttals" will come first
  Activists of all stripes in the nation's bitter health care debate aren't even waiting for President Obama's prime time address to spin and weigh in on it.
• Obama to take firm position on health care plan in address
  Aides say the president is ready to "draw some lines in the sand," while a Senate health care point man circulated a plan that would tax insurers.
• Health care: From sound and fury to the real fight
  Fresh from sometimes-fierce debates, Congress is ready to decide the future of health care.
• Health care debate? Still fevered
  Sentiments and opinions ran hot during a health care town hall hosted by Rep. Michele Bachmann in Lake Elmo.
• UNH seeks key role in health overhaul
  Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth Group has been an active presence in the national debate on health care.
• Health insurers fighting overhaul plan with cash
  An industry worried about a "public option'' is directing big donations to some state lawmakers. Some of the Minnesota delegation rank high in donations from an industry worried about reform.
• Doctors deeply divided over national health care reform
  The American Medical Association is one powerful voice on the subject, but it's far from the only one. The AMA opposes President Obama's public insurance option, which he will try to push through Congress this year. But the AMA represents only 20 percent of physicians.
• Double jeopardy
  For some who've lost their jobs, the lack of health insurance could cost them their lives.
• Cure for the health care crisis?
  As the national health care debate intensifies, a little clinic in northeast Minneapolis may be pointing the way.
• Fear and Fury: What’s behind town hall tensions?
  Listen to the people packing town halls on health care, and you'll hear earnest concern or outright rage. Many agree that the system is broken. But is this how to fix it?
• Obama promising to detail where he stands on health care
  Senior administration officials said his speech to a joint session of Congress will satisfy demands for specifics.
• Worried, Obama shifts on health
  The president makes his move on health care, with a national address to unveil a plan that seeks a middle ground, minus the contentious elements.
• Obama invokes grandmother's death in health debate
  Now, it's personal. President Barack Obama invoked his own anguish over the death of a loved one as he challenged the debunked notion that Democratic efforts to overhaul the nation's health care would include "death panels."
• Obama denounces emphasis on health care protests
  Trying to lower the temperature of the health care fight, President Barack Obama on Friday denounced news media emphasis on angry protesters at town hall meetings.
• Democrats getting an earful on health care during recess
  As lawmakers return home from Washington, opponents and skeptics of overhauling the health care system are turning up the heat.
• The Children's Health Insurance Program legislation
  On January 29, 2009, the U.S. Senate approved the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, better known as the State Children's Health Insurance Program or SCHIP.
• GOP pressuring Walz, Peterson on health care
  Minnesota's Republican Party cranked up the pressure today on two of the state's Democratic congressmen as part of the GOP's broad attempt to derail the Obama administration's health care reform plan.
• Pawlenty pans Democrats' Rx for health care
  In a letter to the state's congressional delegation, the governor urges giving up on the health legislation.
• No shortage of calls and e-mails to Minnesota's delegation in health care debate
  The health care issue has moved constituents to voice their views, prompting the delegation to seek dialogue, not diatribe.
• Health care debate: How many actually uninsured?
  It's a central goal of the president's plan: Extending health care coverage to the millions of Americans who lack it. Question is, just how many million are uninsured?
• Ridgedale Library hosts health care meeting
  Usually silence is golden at this venue, but the town hall meeting there tonight is on a subject that may provoke a ruckus.
• Jam-packed crowds press Iowa Sen. Grassley on health care
  Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican who is a key bargainer on health care reform, played to packed crowds across the state who left little doubt that they are not happy with what's on the table.
• Obama looks West, to the Web in health care fight
  President Barack Obama is turning his eyes West and hitting the Web as he steps up his counteroffensive against critics of a proposed health care overhaul.
• Obama takes reins of health debate
  President Obama launched a personal effort to reclaim the momentum for his health care initiative on Tuesday with a direct rebuttal of what he called "scare tactics," rumors and misrepresentations.