WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Congress reconvenes Monday with a top Senate Democrat planning ambitious health-care legislation and President Barack Obama making a do-or-die pitch to get health-care reform done this year.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., is reportedly circulating a draft health-care reform bill that would require every American to have insurance and would make employers contribute to workers' coverage. The White House expects Kennedy to unveil the bill Monday, the Washington Post reported.

Kennedy outlined major elements of his legislation on Thursday in an op-ed in the Boston Globe. He said it would let Americans keep the insurance they have, reduce costs, emphasize preventing diseases, improve care for the elderly and invest in doctor training, among other steps.

But Kennedy said "all must share the responsibility and the costs" to achieve the bill's goals, including businesses, government, healthcare providers and individuals.

Overhauling health-care may cost as much as $1 trillion, and paying for it will be among the toughest parts of the reform debate.

This week, Obama made a push to finish health-care reform this year, telling supporters on Thursday "if we don't get it done this year, we're not going to get it done."


Republicans, meanwhile, charge that Obama's and Democrats' plans will take away individual choice. Last week, Republicans proposed to give Americans tax credits to pay for health insurance.

On June 6, Obama's political organization, Organizing for America, is kicking off a nationwide campaign to promote health-care reform.

Lawmakers are trying to produce health-care legislation by August. Kennedy's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has a target date of June 16 to begin working on a bill, a spokesman said.

Obama's goals for health-care are to keep down costs, allow people to choose their own doctors and insurers and ensure "quality, affordable" care for all Americans.

Republicans, meanwhile, are also aiming to allow patients to choose their doctors and insurers. But they say health-care should be made more affordable without tax increases or new government spending.

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