Checks not guaranteed for all insurance rebates

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration says nearly 13 million people in the U.S. will benefit from health insurance rebates under the new health care law, but the number actually getting checks could be much smaller.

Awaiting a Supreme Court decision on the health care law, the administration issued a report Thursday that says 12.8 million individuals will benefit from rebates averaging $151 per household.

But two-thirds of those people are covered by employer plans, and they're only entitled to pro-rated rebates, based on their share of premiums.

What's more, employers can plow all the rebate money, including workers' share, into the company's health plan.

The official who heads office running the health care overhaul says it's not known at this point how many checks will go out.