Healthcare reform debate set to begin

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. lawmakers say they are preparing for next year's expected debated on healthcare reform.

Marketwatch said the questions of how to make coverage more equitable and how to define affordability will likely be the key elements of the debate.

The report said increasing unemployment will likely make more people aware of how dependent they are on their jobs for access to affordable health insurance. Marketwatch said people may find reasonable rates if they're young and healthy but those who are older and sicker will have a more difficult time.

The group America's Health Insurance Plans said about 5 percent of the country's under-65 population, have individual health insurance.

"The individual market is certainly going to be a part of the healthcare reform discussion," AHIP spokesman Robert Zirkelbach told Marketwatch. "We've always believed it's important to strengthen the employer-based market, but at the same time we need to make sure everyone has access to the individual market as well."