Congress, Obama toil to help jobless get healthcare

As part of a $825 billion strategy to heal the economy, lawmakers and Obama transition officials envision a two-prong approach to help unemployed people retrieve health benefits. One would reshape a basic entitlement program, allowing states temporarily to sign up jobless residents for Medicaid, with the federal government for the first time paying the entire cost. The other proposal would provide unprecedented federal subsidies to help people afford coverage under COBRA.