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Obama Makes New Pitch on Health Care Law Obama Makes New Pitch on Health Care Law
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — President Obama made a public pitch for his health care law on Friday, emphasizing its benefits for women and promoting the opportunity for people to sign up for subsidized health insurance in five months. WASHINGTON — President Obama provided a vigorous defense of his health care law on Friday, saying he was “110 percent committed'’ to delivering its benefits on schedule, and he said consumers should not be “bamboozled” by critics spreading misinformation about the law.
The president’s remarks, at a White House event tied to Mother’s Day, followed weeks of criticism by impatient Democrats in Congress, who have been saying that Mr. Obama needs to do a better job of defending the law and educating the public on it. Evoking the spirit of Mother’s Day, Mr. Obama said the law would be particularly beneficial for women, including many in the audience, who whooped and cheered as the president spoke at an event in the East Room of the White House.
In his remarks, Mr. Obama was more animated and more specific than he usually is in discussing the law, which was passed in March 2010 without any Republican votes.
“No one can be turned away from private insurance plans,'’ Mr. Obama said. “If you’re sick, you’ll finally have the same chance to buy quality, affordable health care as everybody else.” Moreover, he said, “if you lose your job or you change your job or you start that new business, you’ll still be able to purchase quality, affordable health care.'’
Mr. Obama made the moral case for universal health insurance coverage, an argument that he has often neglected in the past.
“The United States of America does not sentence its people to suffering just because they don't make enough to buy insurance on the private market, just because their work doesn't provide health insurance, just because they fall sick or suffer an accident,’’ Mr. Obama said. “That could happen to anybody. And regular access to a doctor or medicine or preventive care -- that's not some earned privilege; it is a right.'’
Mr. Obama wound up his speech with a promise: “We’re going to keep fighting with everything we’ve got to secure that right, to make sure that every American gets the care that they need when they need it at a price that they can afford.'’
The president’s remarks followed weeks of criticism by Democrats in Congress, who had said that Mr. Obama needed to do a better job of defending and explaining the law.
Starting in October, individuals, families and small-business owners in every state will be able to shop for private insurance in online markets known as insurance exchanges. Coverage begins in January 2014, when most Americans will be required to have insurance.Starting in October, individuals, families and small-business owners in every state will be able to shop for private insurance in online markets known as insurance exchanges. Coverage begins in January 2014, when most Americans will be required to have insurance.
Administration officials said they expected that seven million people would gain coverage through the exchanges in 2014, with the number growing to 29 million by the law’s fifth year.Administration officials said they expected that seven million people would gain coverage through the exchanges in 2014, with the number growing to 29 million by the law’s fifth year.
The officials said they were focusing, in particular, on 2.7 million uninsured people age 18 to 35, because people in this group were generally healthy and their premiums could help pay for the care of less healthy subscribers. The officials said they were focusing, in particular, on 2.7 million uninsured people ages 18 to 35, because people in this group were generally healthy and their premiums could help pay for the care of less healthy subscribers.
More than 95 percent of the people in this cohort do not have chronic conditions, the officials said, and one-third of them live in just three states, California, Florida and Texas.More than 95 percent of the people in this cohort do not have chronic conditions, the officials said, and one-third of them live in just three states, California, Florida and Texas.
In its efforts to enroll people in health insurance plans, the administration plans to use techniques reminiscent of political campaigns, focusing on specific neighborhoods and communities. And they said they knew exactly how many people they were looking for in specific places like Jefferson County, Colo. In its efforts to enroll people in health insurance plans, the administration plans to use techniques reminiscent of political campaigns, focusing on specific neighborhoods and communities. And officials said they knew exactly how many people they were looking for in specific places like Jefferson County, Colo.
In California, where the state will run its own insurance exchange, nearly half of the people eligible for insurance subsidies are Hispanic. In Florida, where the federal government will run the exchange, nearly half are Hispanic or African-American.In California, where the state will run its own insurance exchange, nearly half of the people eligible for insurance subsidies are Hispanic. In Florida, where the federal government will run the exchange, nearly half are Hispanic or African-American.
Administration officials expressed confidence on Friday that the politics of health care would turn in their favor and that more Americans would support the law after they gained coverage and other tangible benefits.Administration officials expressed confidence on Friday that the politics of health care would turn in their favor and that more Americans would support the law after they gained coverage and other tangible benefits.
Republicans have made clear that, in Congressional elections next year, they will pillory Democrats for enacting and supporting the law.Republicans have made clear that, in Congressional elections next year, they will pillory Democrats for enacting and supporting the law.
“The president has an obligation to warn all Americans about the train wreck that’s headed our way,” said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, who is running for a sixth term.“The president has an obligation to warn all Americans about the train wreck that’s headed our way,” said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, who is running for a sixth term.
But administration officials said that if Republicans persisted in their efforts to repeal the law, they would be trying to take something of value away from seven million people.But administration officials said that if Republicans persisted in their efforts to repeal the law, they would be trying to take something of value away from seven million people.
The event Friday focused on mothers because the White House sees them as “validators” — if they approve of the health care law, their children will take the cue from them and sign up. Administrations officials said that the event Friday focused on mothers because the White House sees them as “validators” — if they approve of the health care law, their children will take the cue from them and sign up.