Obama rallies Democratic troops on health care

President Barack Obama encouraged fellow Democrats in the US Senate on Sunday to overcome their divisions and pass sweeping health care reform legislation, in a rare closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill.

The president urged lawmakers to "continue forward on this historic opportunity to provide stability and security for those who have insurance, affordable coverage for those who don't," according to a read-out of the 45-minute meeting from Obama aide Bill Burton.

Senators were holed up in Congress over the weekend to debate the health care overhaul, Obama's top domestic priority, which aims to provide coverage to the estimated 36 million Americans with no health insurance whatsoever.

After months of fractious debate in committee and behind closed doors and a key procedural vote two weeks ago, the Senate finally began its formal consideration of the bill last Monday.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes to pass the bill before the end of the year.

But many votes, and likely Republican delaying tactics, stand in Reid's way.

He needs to muster all 60 votes -- all 58 Democrats and two independents -- who form the majority, but some conservative Democrats have opposed including a government-backed insurance "public option" to compete with private insurers, a key component of the plan.

The measure also includes a tough new restrictions on dropping care for pre-existing ailments and an end on lifetime caps for coverage.

Obama seeks to help the majority strike a compromise to secure the backing of senators still on the fence: Democrats Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln and Ben Nelson, as well as Joe Lieberman, an independent who usually votes with the Democrats.

In addition to his opposition to a public option, Nelson is also seeking provisions banning the use of public funds for abortions.

The House of Representatives already passed its version of the bill on November 7.

Senate approval of the measure would force both chambers to reconcile their versions and vote again on whether to send it to the White House for Obama's signature.

The bill is estimated to cost 848 billion dollars through 2019 but cut the sky-high US budget deficit by 130 billion dollars over the same period, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.