WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama said the country is on the way to fully implementing the Affordable Care Act and “helping millions of Americans”. The president also blamed politics for slowing acceptance of the new policies.
“Unfortunately, a group of Republicans in Congress are working to confuse people and are even suggesting they will shut down the government if they cannot shut down the health care law,” the White House said Saturday. “Health insurance isn’t something to play politics with, and the President will keep working to make sure the law works as it’s supposed to, and he encourages everyone to visit HealthCare.gov to find out more about the law and how to sign up.”
The president also went back to one of his recurring themes for the middle class, what he calls “a better bargain”.
“We need to rebuild an economy that rewards hard work and responsibility; an economy built firmly on the cornerstones of middle-class life. Good jobs. A good education. A home of your own. A secure retirement. And quality, affordable health care that’s there when you need it,” the president said.
“Right now, we’re well on our way to fully implementing the Affordable Care Act. And in the next few months, we’ll reach a couple milestones with real meaning for millions of Americans.”
The president pointed to free checkups, mammograms, and contraceptive care as benefits that the already-insured have received. “Discounted prescription medicine on Medicare,” he continued. “The fact you can stay on your parents’ plan until you turn 26. And much, much more. And it’s okay if you’re not a fan of the Affordable Care Act – you can take advantage of these things anyway.”
President Obama reminded the public that open enrollment in the new insurance marketplace begins October 1st while chastising Republicans for thwarting public acceptance of the polices.
“There’s a group of Republicans in Congress working hard to confuse people, and making empty promises that they’ll either shut down the health care law, or, if they don’t get their way, they’ll shut down the government.
“A lot of Republicans seem to believe that if they can gum up the works and make this law fail, they’ll somehow be sticking it to me. But they’d just be sticking it to you.”
“If you don’t have insurance, beginning on October 1st, private plans will actually compete for your business. You can comparison shop in an online marketplace, just like you would for cell phone plans or plane tickets. You may be eligible for new tax credits to help you afford the plan that’s right for you. And if you’re in the up to half of all Americans who’ve been sick or have a preexisting condition, this law means that beginning January 1st, insurance companies have to cover you – and they can’t use your medical history to charge you more than anybody else.”
HealthCare.gov offers more information on the health insurance marketplace.
Many Members of Congress, in both parties, are working hard to inform their constituents about these benefits, protections, and affordable plans. But there’s also a group of Republicans in Congress working hard to confuse people, and making empty promises that they’ll either shut down the health care law, or, if they don’t get their way, they’ll shut down the government.
Think about that. They’re actually having a debate between hurting Americans who will no longer be denied affordable care just because they’ve been sick – and harming the economy and millions of Americans in the process. And many Republicans are more concerned with how badly this debate will hurt them politically than they are with how badly it’ll hurt the country.
A lot of Republicans seem to believe that if they can gum up the works and make this law fail, they’ll somehow be sticking it to me. But they’d just be sticking it to you.
Some even say that if you call their office with questions about the law, they’ll refuse to help. Call me old-fashioned – but that’s lousy constituent service. And it’s not what you deserve.
Your health insurance isn’t something to play politics with. Our economy isn’t something to play politics with. This isn’t a game. This is about the economic security of millions of families.
See, in the states where governors and legislatures and insurers are working together to implement this law properly – states like California, New York, Colorado and Maryland – competition and consumer choice are actually making insurance affordable.
So I’m going to keep doing everything in my power to make sure this law works as it’s supposed to. Because in the United States of America, health insurance isn’t a privilege – it is your right. And we’re going to keep it that way.
Thanks. And have a great weekend.
httpv://youtu.be/iXpbDmiGq-s
And by on our way to full implementation he means only 48% of the law is going to be implemented on time. What’s not being implemented on time is being pushed off until after the midterms to save his party from getting hammered at the ballot box.
I think the rodeo clown in Missouri pretty much nailed it.
I hope when this jerk is out of office and we can get a decent President the next one flushes Obama Care along with Michelle’s lunch program. He has totally ruined our American Country.
More BS from Obama. How is this going to help the middle class when it will now cost us more for health care and we also have to pay for the millions of deadbeats that vote for this idiot. Worst president ever. Save your crap for the spend o crats and the deadbeats.
I have family and close friends that voted for obama so when I say that the people that voted for him were being decieved by satan. Obama is not the anti-christ but he is the one that sets the stage for him.
Think they call ’em REPUBLITARDS
@a.k. – I think you mean Libraterds. You people are brain washed you don’t know which way is up. Even the Unions and the Democrats are waking up to the worst president this country has ever had . Osama Obama.
LVS missing the point as usual. With the Republican Party failing at every turn, nationally and locally, what else can we call them? There’s no doubting the party’s failure in Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties and others.
@a.k.-I get the point alright. The real point here is you don’t have a clue Libraterd.
Just wait peter, before his 2nd term is over this country will be at war with itself. Still blaming others huh.
The way you can tell a democrat is they get caught with their hands in the cookie jar and they blame everybody else but themselves. I am a big fan of Regan but even he did things that I disagree with, like the hughes amendment but there hasn’t been a president that is totally clean. Yes bush did some things that I don’t like, patriot act is one, but none of them was blatently criminalistic and who broke the law knowingly like Obama.
I am assuming the war you are talking about is Iraq which was authorized by congress(both Dems and Rep)even though they did not do what the constitution wanted. And as far as the Wall Street. Look who benefited the Democrats were the beneficiaries of 75% of wall street political donations. Look at which democrats took the big bonuses from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac when they were going under. For Obama look at the mess in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Fast and Furious, Obamacare give a ways to political supporters, IRS going after only conservative groups, failing to enforce our immigration laws, the give a ways to the so called green tech companies for nothing just because they were big money supports to Obama You need to look at how bad this administration is going.
You must have been asleep when Obama ordered 125 Tomahawk cruise missiles be fired into Libya and the US flew 60% of the sorties. Additionally, you must have nodded off when he started flying drones, and launching hellfire missiles, into 14 countries above and beyond those Bush was doing it in.
This guy lives in a dream world. He must be smoking that funny stuff just like Steal Panther. Even his own part is against Obamacare and the congress has taken steps to protect themselves from having to use it. Only the taxpayers and dumba## democrats are required to have it. When the Unions disavow Obamacare you know it is dead.
Oh yes and the teachers unions were one of the first exempted, and don’t forget you all get to give 6percent of your income to this piece of crap starting jan 1 2014!!!!. Vote NO on school bond issues. We the tax payers dumped 70 million on new schools over past 7 years. I hear new artificial turf football fields and baseball are on the list with new tax dollars!!! Vote September 10!!!!!!!
That does not sound like a independent talking. Sounds more like a republican.
I agree. It sounds like they grasp the issues and can see the smoke. If Obamacare is so great, why are we being forced into it and they are opting out. Doesn’t take much to figure that one out. I, like Obama and coherts…don’t want it. If you do, be my guest.
Remember way back when Obama said that ALL must belong so it’s cost effective. Well now he’s letting all his ‘friends’ out. Then lets scrape the whole idea and come up with a new plan. Take the couple of good points and go from there. Yes Obamacare has 2 good points. Letting kids stay on their folks policy till age 26 and prior conditions doesn’t eliminate the admittance into a new policy. If the unions are wanting out now, now that they have read the bill……it’s either all in or redo the healthcare. PERIOD!!