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Obama faces US Congress on health Obama faces US Congress on health
(22 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is making one of the most critical speeches of his presidency, as he faces Congress over his plans for healthcare reform.US President Barack Obama is making one of the most critical speeches of his presidency, as he faces Congress over his plans for healthcare reform.
Mr Obama said after 100 years of effort to reform healthcare, he wanted to be the last president to deal with it. Mr Obama said that failure to introduce reform had led the country to breaking point and it was now time to act.
He said that failure to introduce reform had led the country to breaking point. He said he planned to improve health insurance for those who have it and to create an insurance exchange to extend cover to those who do not.
Members of Congress are preparing to fight over details of the reforms, as they return after the summer recess. Members of Congress are preparing to fight over details of the reforms.
See how healthcare spending is divided up See how healthcare spending is divided up
Talking about the millions in the country who have no insurance, Mr Obama said:Talking about the millions in the country who have no insurance, Mr Obama said:
"Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy."Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy.
"These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans.""These are not primarily people on welfare. These are middle-class Americans."
Here's the guts of it - he promises that no-one who has health insurance will lose it Mark Mardell BBC North America editor Mark Mardell's live blog on the speech The mood changed slightly when he said that it was false to claim that illegal immigrants would be covered under his plan Mark Mardell BBC North America editor Mark Mardell's live blog on the speech
But Mr Obama said the current system did not serve those Americans who do have health insurance well either.But Mr Obama said the current system did not serve those Americans who do have health insurance well either.
"Those who do have insurance have never had less security and stability than they do today."Those who do have insurance have never had less security and stability than they do today.
"More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you'll lose your health insurance too.""More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you'll lose your health insurance too."
He said the US spent one-and-half times more on health insurance than any other country but Americans were no healthier than other people.
Insurance exchange
Mr Obama set out details of his plan to reform the system.Mr Obama set out details of his plan to reform the system.
He said that nothing in his proposal would require Americans who already have health insurance to change their coverage or doctor.He said that nothing in his proposal would require Americans who already have health insurance to change their coverage or doctor.
But he said he would make the insurance work better for individuals by prohibiting insurers from dropping coverage for sick patients or by capping it.But he said he would make the insurance work better for individuals by prohibiting insurers from dropping coverage for sick patients or by capping it.
HEALTHCARE IN THE US 46 million uninsured, 25 million under-insuredHealthcare costs represent 16% of GDP, almost twice OECD averageReform plans would require all Americans to get insuranceSome propose public insurance option to compete with private insurers Q&A: US healthcare reform Anger clouds US healthcare debate Are healthcare protests genuine?
He would also require insurers to cover the cost of routine check-ups and preventative care.He would also require insurers to cover the cost of routine check-ups and preventative care.
For the millions of uninsured Americans, he said he will create an insurance exchange - a market place where individuals and small business will be able to shop for health insurance at competitive prices.For the millions of uninsured Americans, he said he will create an insurance exchange - a market place where individuals and small business will be able to shop for health insurance at competitive prices.
HEALTHCARE IN THE US 46 million uninsured, 25 million under-insuredHealthcare costs represent 16% of GDP, almost twice OECD averageReform plans would require all Americans to get insuranceSome propose public insurance option to compete with private insurers Q&A: US healthcare reform Anger clouds US healthcare debate Are healthcare protests genuine?
Healthcare reform has been the central issue of his change agenda but has divided both the US public and the country's political establishment.Healthcare reform has been the central issue of his change agenda but has divided both the US public and the country's political establishment.
One problem is that the issue is so complex many Americans say they do not fully understand the proposals. President Obama said that Congress agreed on about 80% of the reforms that are needed.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Washington, says the president will need all his oratory skill to rescue his hopes for reform. But he said months of partisan bickering had only hardened the disdain many Americans have towards their own government.
He is facing almost unanimous opposition from Republicans, who are uneasy about the idea of government-run healthcare and who have accused Mr Obama of attempting to introduce a "socialist" policy.He is facing almost unanimous opposition from Republicans, who are uneasy about the idea of government-run healthcare and who have accused Mr Obama of attempting to introduce a "socialist" policy.
There are, in theory, enough Democrats in Congress to approve the changes.There are, in theory, enough Democrats in Congress to approve the changes.
But in practice, the party is deeply divided between those that want a publicly-run insurance scheme and those alarmed by the borrowing necessary to fund it, our correspondent says. But in practice, the party is deeply divided between those that want a publicly-run insurance scheme and those alarmed by the borrowing necessary to fund it.
Mr Obama is expected to talk about a publicly run scheme
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