Washington, Sep 10 (DPA) President Barack Obama warned that health care in the US has reached a 'breaking point' and called for a serious effort to overhaul the system in the coming months, according to excerpts of a speech he is to deliver to Congress.

Obama is looking to regain some momentum as Congress returns from a month-long summer recess, during which many legislators were shouted down by angry opponents at townhall meetings on the issue in their home states.

'Our collective failure to meet this challenge - year after year, decade after decade - has led us to a breaking point,' Obama said, according to the excerpts released by the White House Wednesday.

'The time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action.'

Obama, who has so far left the crafting of the legislation largely to Congress, was expected to deliver more concrete proposals during the rare address before a joint session of Congress.

In the excerpts, Obama said he remained open to ideas from both parties, but warned: 'I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it's better politics to kill this plan than improve it.