Just when healthcare passage seemed to be on its way, the Massachusetts special election entered the picture; leaving President Obama with many questions regarding the future of the bill.
As an initial move to help re-energize healthcare discussions after the Democrat’s loss of the Senate majority, Obama has encouraged leaders from both parties to meet on February 25th for a televised open forum.
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Young adults are in for a wake-up call if health care reform passes.
For the first time ever, the federal government is going to require that everybody obtain health insurance coverage. For those who have insurance through their employers, the so-called individual mandate may have very little impact. But for young adults, many of whom are not currently covered, the health care bill will add a new and costly expense to their budgets. 
House Democrats are signaling that a final health care bill will drop the government-run public health insurance option favored by liberals but rejected by conservatives from both parties.
A House-Senate conference committee will begin negotiations next month on merging health care bills passed by the Democratic majorities in each chamber. 
The Senate on Thursday passed its version of the health care bill, inching the country closer to the biggest expansion of medical coverage since Medicare was enacted more than four decades ago. Senate Democrats declared victory after the 60-39 party line vote, but one of the most complicated tasks is still ahead.
A conference committee must reconcile the differences -- notably a public option, how to pay for the plan that emerges, and coverage for abortion -- and merge them into one. The House and Senate will then have to pass the revised plan before it can be sent to President Obama's desk. Each chamber needs a simple majority vote for final passage. 