U.S. House narrowly passes health-care bill

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a health-care reform bill Saturday night, a major step in the attempt to overhaul the system.

“Thanks to the hard work of the House, we are just two steps away from achieving health insurance reform in America,” President Barack Obama said in a written statement.

“Now the United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will.”

The bill passed by a vote of 220 to 215, with all Republicans and 39 Democrats voting against the proposed legislation. Democrats, who hold 258 seat, had needed 218 votes to pass the bill.

The landmark legislation would extend health insurance to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and enact dramatic changes to the country’s medical system.

The bill would cost $1.2 trillion over the next decade and require most employers to offer health coverage to their workers and prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage based on a person’s medical history.

The bill includes a public health insurance option, but if people like their current plans, they would be able to keep them.

For individuals not currently covered by their employer, and some small businesses, the legislation would establish a new health insurance exchange where consumers could comparison-shop