Amid the acrimony, Congress has consensus on some healthcare issues

Democrats and Republicans actually agree on a bundle of proposals that could make medical insurance better for millions of Americans. The consensus proposals include such popular ideas as barring insurance companies from denying coverage to people with preexisting injuries and illnesses, cutting insurance coverage off when a policyholder gets sick, and imposing a lifetime cap on benefits. Lawmakers from both parties are increasingly eyeing the areas of agreement as a possible fallback if the president's more ambitious approach collapses.