Obama: Govt-run health care could trump private

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says some employers might choose a government-run health care plan over private insurance, a major fear of the industry.

Obama told a news conference Tuesday that he can guarantee Americans won't have to change their insurance providers if the White House gets its way on overhauling health care. But he acknowledged that some employers might choose a government-created option instead of private plans.

Obama says that's a byproduct of competition and that, without an overhaul of the system, Americans face a possibility of seeing changes in their health care for the worse.

Critics say that's an egregious example of Washington forcing workers away from private insurance plans.