WASHINGTON –President Barack Obama has unveiled new plans to reform US healthcare and revive stalled legislation on the issue, aiming for bipartisan support.

One of the key proposals gives the US government new power to block health insurers from imposing excessive premium increases.

It is the first time that Mr Obama, who has made healthcare a key priority, has put forward proposals himself.

On Thursday he will hold bipartisan talks at the White House on the issue.

The Republican reaction to Mr Obama's efforts has so far been critical, with House Republican leader John Boehner saying the proposals took the same approach as that of previous Democratic bills.

"The president has crippled the credibility of this week's summit [on Thursday] by proposing the same massive government takeover of healthcare based on a partisan bill the American people have already rejected," he said in a prepared statement

But Obama also made an implicit threat to try to bypass Republican procedural roadblocks and force his proposals through Congress with a simple Senate majority of 51 votes rather than the customary 60 needed in the 100-seat body on controversial legislation. The need for 60 votes has stymied his healthcare reform efforts up to now.

The latest plan requires most Americans to take out health insurance coverage, with federal subsidies to help many afford the premiums.

It bars insurance companies from denying coverage to people with existing medical problems or charging them more.

A tax on high-cost health insurance plans objected to by House Democrats - and trade unions - is to be scaled back.

The president says the plan would put "our budget and economy on a more stable path by reducing the deficit by $100 billion over the next 10 years - and more than $1 trillion over the second decade - by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse".