Universal Health Care Costly, Divides Dems (Investor's Business Daily Online)

...Universal health care advocates attribute the cost overruns in Massachusetts to a positive outcome -- more uninsured are signing up.

Len Nichols, director of health policy at the New America Foundation, remains upbeat about health care reform in 2009.

Away from the campaign trail, Nichols notes that a bill from Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has attracted about a dozen sponsors across the political spectrum. The bill would pay for mandated universal coverage by ending the tax break on employer-provided coverage and using those savings to help those with incomes of less than 400% of the poverty level pay insurance premiums.

"The main reason I'm optimistic is precisely because we have that conversation going on," Nichols said.

Both Obama and Clinton would force insurers to offer affordable and generous coverage to all, regardless of health status. They would end Bush tax cuts for families making over $250,000 to help subsidize premiums.