Democrats call insurance industry report flawed

Obama administration officials and Congressional Democrats have responded to a new insurance industry report that said premiums would climb sharply with the passage of comprehensive health legislation. The report said selected provisions of a bill from the Senate Finance Committee could increase premiums 18% more than they would otherwise rise in the next decade, to an average of nearly $26,000 for families and $9,700 for individuals in 2019. White House officials said the industry had ignored features of the bill that would lower costs for consumers, like subsidies for people who could not afford insurance.