WASHINGTON — The Senate’s plan to expand health coverage to 34 million more Americans would raise costs slightly, government economic experts said in a report Saturday.
Over time, cost-cutting measures could start to reduce the annual increases in health care spending, offering the possibility of substantial savings in the long run. At the same time, however, some of the Senate’s Medicare savings could be unrealistic and cause lawmakers to roll them back, according to Medicare’s top number crunchers.
The study found that health spending, which accounts for about one-sixth of the economy, would increase by less than 1 percent than it otherwise would over the coming decade, even with so many more people receiving coverage.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the report shows the Senate bill would slow the rate of growth in health care costs, strengthen Medicare and provide millions more people with insurance coverage. The Associated Press
