Obama on the Uninsured: ‘It Can Happen to Anyone’
EmailFrom Sunlen Miller, Matt Jaffe and Jordyn Phelps:
Pushing a sense of urgency for health care reform, President Obama in his weekly address warned that the threat of not having insurance is actually very real to many Americans.
He warned that “the uninsured” is not just some phantom group – that it could happen to you.
“And I’ve heard from Americans with insurance who thought that 'the uninsured' always referred to someone else – but between skyrocketing costs and insurance company practices, they’re beginning to worry that they could find themselves uninsured too,” Obama said. “We’re not just talking about Americans in poverty, either. We’re talking about middle-class Americans. In other words, it can happen to anyone.”
Armed with statistics from a new Treasury Department study, Obama made the case that being uninsured is a very real possibility.
“We can expect that about half of all Americans under 65 will lose their health coverage at some point over the next 10 years," he said. "If you’re under the age of 21 today, chances are more than half that you’ll find yourself uninsured at some point in that time. And more than one-third of Americans will go without coverage for longer than one year.”
The Treasury Department found that 48 percent of Americans undergo a period without health insurance over the course of a decade. Forty-one percent of Americans don’t have insurance for more than six months. And 32 percent go without insurance for more than a year’s time. The study looked at 17,123 Americans aged 65 and younger from 1997-2006. Americans had to be without insurance for at least a month to be considered in the data.
Treasury officials said these numbers don’t just affect lower-income Americans. Forty-five percent of Americans with a household income ranging between $50,000 and $100,000 annually undergo a period without insurance over a decade, the study found.
Obama said his health reform plan will ensure that fewer Americans become part of those statistics.
“I refuse to allow that future to happen,” Obama said. “In the United States of America, no one should have to worry that they’ll go without health insurance – not for one year, not for one month, not for one day. And once I sign my health reform plan into law, they won’t.”
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner similarity stressed, in a paper statement, the report’s findings as an argument for passing health reform legislation now.
“The report released today by Treasury underscores the urgent need for comprehensive health insurance reform,” Geithner said. “While over 15 percent of Americans go without insurance in a given year, nearly 50 percent will go uninsured at some point over the next decade. “
A Treasury official said the president’s focus on the threat of being uninsured is because many Americans have the “misperception that benefits and protections for the uninsured help only a small slice of Americans.”
“That is not the case,” a Treasury official said. “These numbers suggest … that the risk Americans face [of] losing insurance is much too high. And one could reasonably predict that over the course of the next decade, unless major reforms are made, at least half of Americans – if the next 10 years are like the last 10 years – half of Americans would go some period without coverage by health insurance, and many for a substantially long period.”
Treasury officials also made the case that the data collection period, 1997-2000, was a time when the economy was doing relatively well and health insurance was not as expensive as it is right now.
The president said that every day that goes by without passing reform is affecting Americans.
“We have had a long and important debate," he said. "But now is the time for action, because every day we wait, more Americans will lose their health care, their businesses, and their homes – but also the dreams they’ve worked for and the peace of mind they deserve. They are why we have to succeed.”
The health care momentum will be kept up this weekend, as President Obama travels to Minneapolis for a rally on health care reform.
Watch Obama's radio address HERE.
-Sunlen Miller, Matt Jaffe and Jordyn Phelps
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Is that why 80% or so of Americans are satisfied with their health care NOW as it is, with no Obamacare? It can happen to anyone? No, not really. It can’t happen to Obama. It can’t happen to members of Congress. Our bloated gov’t. bureaucracies won’t lose THEIR insurance, they won’t lose their jobs either. And they won’t be signing up for ObamaCare either.
Why is this suddenly so urgent? Why is everything proposed by this president urgent, so urgent it requires no debate, no examination, not even for many legislators, to even read the proposed legislation?
Our used car salesman of a president is trying to foist a lemon on us, a lemon we can’t even afford.
Posted by: Terry | September 12, 2009, 7:28 am 7:28 am
Yep. Obama really needs to light the crisis burner again. The flame was getting low.
He desperately needs another crisis not to waste.
Posted by: drjohn | September 12, 2009, 7:34 am 7:34 am
Since insurance is linked with employment, the question to ask is how many people work for the same company for 10 years. People change jobs & change insurance at the same time. Would you take seriously a statement saying X% of people will be unemployed at some point over a period of 10 years & say this has something to do with unemployment generally? At any given point in time, millions of people are in the midst of changeing jobs – this is taken into consideration when interpreting unemployment statistics.
This is just more BS from Obama, desperate to rescue a failing presidency.
Posted by: Terry | September 12, 2009, 7:37 am 7:37 am
How long can this country tolerate the complete absence of any effort to incentivize the creation of non-government jobs?
Obama never seems to realize that the non-government jobs are the ones that are useful. Creating government jobs does nothing for the economy.
Posted by: drjohn | September 12, 2009, 7:52 am 7:52 am
Get a grip, Folks. At best, all of us pre-Medicare workers are exactly one job loss and serious illness/accident away from financial ruin.
Posted by: Chicago11 | September 12, 2009, 8:19 am 8:19 am
Yet more fearmongering. What a surprise. NOT.
Posted by: Jenn | September 12, 2009, 8:34 am 8:34 am
A September 10th CBS poll asked Americans who watched Obama’s speech, “In general, do you mostly agree or mostly disagree with the health care reform proposals Barack Obama laid out in his speech last night?”
60% Mostly Agree
33% Mostly Disagree
4% Mixed
3% Unsure
Posted by: Numeros | September 12, 2009, 8:49 am 8:49 am
I wonder how many here will not want health care coverage if they suddenly found themselves with no insurance because of a job loss, or that the insurance company detemines that your illness is pre-existing. I guess you think this happens to other people, not you. That’s what other people thought too. Your insurance coverage today is as good as how long today is. Tomorrow, it could be gone as it has for millions of Americans. Now, if you have 1 million dollars laying around to cover your medical expenses, then I can understand your position. 99% of Americans do not. Get real, this can happen to YOU and YOUR family. Don’t believe what the insurance industry says, they don’t want any changes that cuts into their profits. Ask the CEO of those health insurance companies, they only make several millions a year in salaries, bonuses, and stock options. They also have better insurance coverage than you. They pay NOTHING for it.
Posted by: jake | September 12, 2009, 8:49 am 8:49 am
“A September 10th CBS poll asked Americans who watched Obama’s speech, “In general, do you mostly agree or mostly disagree with the health care reform proposals Barack Obama laid out in his speech last night?”
The poll dramatically oversampled Democrats. It’s invalid. Sorry.
Posted by: Jenn | September 12, 2009, 9:00 am 9:00 am
If they would get rid of the barriers such as being able to purchase health insurance across state lines would be a good start to make health insurance competitive. And some sort of Tort reform. Instead of creating another bureacracy to raise cost of health insurance.
Posted by: aforefreedom | September 12, 2009, 9:05 am 9:05 am
Jenn,
It is not fear mongering. It is the absolute truth….How do you afford your health care? Do you work, independently wealthy? The simple fact is: you lose your job you lose your insurance. You make the choice in life it is better to take the risk and use the money normally reserved for premiums on more important things like food and the mortgage. Heck, most working people cannot afford the premiums now. If you don’t believe it then you either have your head in the sand or up your….That is why Health Care is absolutely needed..the only question is how to accomplish it…
Posted by: indy_voter | September 12, 2009, 9:06 am 9:06 am
Since when has the government run anything efficently…..DAAAAAA!!!!
We’ve got green shoots in the economy Marge! That’s weeds you idiot! Government weeds!
Posted by: kennedy | September 12, 2009, 9:07 am 9:07 am
‘MORE WILL DIE’ IF WE DO NOTHING ON HEALTH…
‘DEFICIT WILL GROW. MORE FAMILIES WILL GO BANKRUPT. MORE BUSINESSES WILL CLOSE’…
SYSTEM ‘AT BREAKING POINT’…
- BARACK OBAMA, FEARMONGER IN CHIEF
Posted by: BoBo | September 12, 2009, 9:08 am 9:08 am
Another Saturday… Another BO Infomercial brought to you by ABC….
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 9:10 am 9:10 am
Terry and drjohn are you republicans with you hands in the cookie jar or insurence company managment with your hands in the cookie jar? Wake up people. The people that are telling you health care reform is bad for you are they very people that will lose millions a year if it goes into affect. Stop being republican sheep.
Posted by: mike | September 12, 2009, 9:12 am 9:12 am
Yeah, like CBS Polling is fair. We can see with the sense of expediency Obama is using that he wants to push another bill or policy through as quickly as possible. You forget, that he had originally set August 15th as a deadline for getting the lousy piece of legislation through know as H.R. 3200. The taxpayers have been harmed enough by these policies that promote big, inefficent government. It’s time for Americans to get what’s best for them. No Government controlled healthcare!!
Posted by: claimAmericaBack | September 12, 2009, 9:14 am 9:14 am
BO used scare tactics in his weekly infomercial to push his socialist Healthfare agenda …
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 9:17 am 9:17 am
Why does the no one ever mention the spending under the previous 8 years, of going from a surplus to a record deficit, or tax cuts for the wealthy that were never paid for, the cost of the Iraq war, or Bush’s trillion dollar medicare prescription drug benefit?
What is wrong with the every American having insurance? We are the richest country in the world, and our CITIZENS do not have guaranteed insurance. Explain that to me.
Posted by: mikenj | September 12, 2009, 9:23 am 9:23 am
Jenn wrote, “A September 10th CBS poll asked Americans who watched Obama’s speech, “In general, do you mostly agree or mostly disagree with the health care reform proposals Barack Obama laid out in his speech last night?”
The poll dramatically oversampled Democrats. It’s invalid. Sorry.”
Prove it Jenn. Prove that the poll “dramatically oversampled” Democrats. Show us the numbers, not your personal bias or opinion.
Posted by: SearamblerOne | September 12, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Well that all depends on how you define “middle class” Oftentimes, these socialist-leaning democrats will define “middle-class” as people earning minimum wage or just above. When mass media are helping to push an agenda, it should send up red flags.
Posted by: USAForNow | September 12, 2009, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Since the non-partisian congressional budget office figures are wrong on how much money we will spend on this over the next ten years; Mr. Obama now has to go to his cronies, Mr. Geithner, who of course is going to back every word he says. You can really trust this guy! The uninsured problem and the pre-exisiting condition problem can be solved legislatively without an entire new branch of bureaucracy being created. Imposing billions of more debt upon the cash strapped U.S. taxpayers. Keep telling yourself that only the rich are going to pay for this and all these other failed policies. You can see your hard earned tax dollars at work with ACORN..Can’t you??
Posted by: claimAmericaBack | September 12, 2009, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Again the President misrepresents the facts (wait there has to be a more concise way of saying that oh, I know HE LIES) to push this over priced lemon of a proposal. The only reason he is pushing a product described but the CBO as “Having no Effect on the upward trajectory of Health Care Costs” is HIS political agenda. Stop this wasteful mess he is backing, go back to the Drawing board and come up with plan that has reasonable benefit for the cost. This plan to fail that he is promoting is too much money for to little product.
Posted by: Rick | September 12, 2009, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Health care costs have doubled over the last 10 years, and are expected to double again within 10 more years if we do what the Republicans want, which is basically nothing. If you currently pay $12,000.00 per year for health care (and many families pay a LOT more), when you add up your premiums, your deductibles, your co-pays, and your out-of-pocket expenses that are not covered – you will be paying at least $24,000.00 per year within 10 years. Better hope you have a great job with above-average annual raises and that you NEVER LOSE THAT JOB………
Posted by: SearamblerOne | September 12, 2009, 9:28 am 9:28 am
More proof that Obama should back off of health care reform and focus on the economy.
No jobs = No recovery
Posted by: Jordan | September 12, 2009, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Give it up Obama . . . your statistics come from dark places people don’t want to talk about. This is purely and simply an attempt by Obama to conjure up statistics to support the payoff of his parasitic constituency and give them free healthcare from the nanny state. His behavior is embarrassingly transparent.
Posted by: rplat | September 12, 2009, 9:35 am 9:35 am
I won’t quibble with this stories facts. I will say Obama often overlooks personal responsibility. I know many who changed jobs, lost jobs and had to make a choice to buy a Cobra plan or do without until they found a new job or were covered by their new employer. I also know people who have chosen to have a boat or motorcycle, other yard ornaments or a nice cruise but wouldn’t buy insurance if it put their lifestyle in jeapordy.
Anyone who thinks that this reform won’t cost the average person “nothing” is sadly mistaken. If it cost employers more they will hire fewer people, if the “rich” are taxed to support it then less investment will occur as it already has. If you want proof start with how much college donations, made by the rich, are down.
Nothing is free.
Posted by: david | September 12, 2009, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, It’s BO’s fish story….. and it sure does smell..
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 9:38 am 9:38 am
It’s quite obvious that BO has no problem lying to the American public to push his socialist healthfare agenda…
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am
Ole Tax Cheating Timmy…. I sure do have a lot of confidences in his bogus numbers he made up for HIS boss..NOT……
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 9:41 am 9:41 am
Getting rid of barriers like accross state purchasing are you really that stupid? Do you understand that the insurence companies all have the same rates period? If you could do what you are talking about they would simply rasie the rates to match the other company so you would really not have a any change. The insurence companies are the same as the bank and as wall street and the oil companies they will simply rasie the price to keep them earning millions. Its all corp. greed and you are all such sheep that you dont realize it.
Posted by: mike | September 12, 2009, 9:41 am 9:41 am
Nice of ABC to reiterate BO’s “SCARY” numbers… and not even challenge there validity….. I guess if KING BO, says its… it has to be true…. Alllllll hail BO and his wise man Timmy
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 9:48 am 9:48 am
The republicans are just mad cause they dont have any power anymore. They want to see Obama fail. That way they will be back in the saddle later. You see with the republicans out of power corprate intrests will not pay them the millions of dollars they are use to getting anymore. They arent in power so what good is it for corprate amarica to buy any of them anymore. The republicans arent getting there large payoffs now and they are mad. Thats the bottom line. You think one person in congress has your best interest at heart you are sadly mistaken to the point that there no hope for you. Big buisness wants things the same take your money and to hell with you as long as the haves have the money to keep you a have not then they arre happy and they do that by buying the political party in charge at any one time and right now its not the republicans and they are mad and want Obama to fail so they can be in charge and in the money again its all a scam wake up.
Posted by: mike | September 12, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am
If Obama was really concerned about people losing their insurance then he would be focusing on job creation not this waste of a program. Remember Bill Clinton’s slogan “It’s the economy stupid”.
Currently, the insurance companies can only sell their policies in certain states-if we allow them to compete in every state that will drive the prices down. Competition is a good thing!!
Joe Wilson was right when he said “you lie” since when the Republicans tried to introduce an amendment that would require proof of citizenship before receiving coverage under the public option Obama and the Democrats refused to include that twice.. Now even the most die hard, pie in the sky Obama supporters have to wonder why the Dem’s wouldn’t include that amendment.
Posted by: whathappened08 | September 12, 2009, 9:52 am 9:52 am
If they pass this healthcare plan, there will be a more people out of work. 16-1/2% allready, not going onver 8.5% lie, economy on recovery also a lie. We can do things that will affect the lawyers first to reduce healthcare costs. tort refrom, purchase across state lines, control immigration, send them back to mexico for treatment in their own hospitals. We are presently paying enough for US citizens that live off the govt. We can do this without putting us deeper into debt.
Posted by: mike | September 12, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am
Uninsured: ‘It Can Happen to Anyone’ WITH THE OBAMA Economy it IS happening to a LOT of us. We are loosing our homes our wealth and our health care. WHATS NEW is all he cares about is the health care. SOLVE the FIRST PROBLEM FIRST.. GET US BACK TO WORK Mr President. I was talking to Union Carpenters and Electricians ITS LOOKING REAL BAD. They are being told to brace for LONG (over 1 year) layoffs. Mr President you are ignoring the obvious. WE ARE LOOSING our JOBS the ECONOMY IS AWFUL and you are talking about health care. OUT OF TOUCH and out of his mind.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | September 12, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am
Isn’t this just great… Another BO taxpayer funded campaign stop in Minneapolis for BO to push his Socialist Healthfare……..of course ABC will put a positive spin on that to
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 9:55 am 9:55 am
It’s interesting that it takes four ABC writers to spin BO’s weekly infomercial…..
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 10:02 am 10:02 am
So ABC…. why is it “OK” for BO and his lackeys to use SCARE TACTICs” to push his Socialist Healthfare agenda….
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 10:07 am 10:07 am
Noticed that those opposed to health care reform offer nothing in rebuttal, but name calling, twisted political rethoric, and just lies being fed to them by the insurance and pharmacutical industry and their lackeys. Get this into your thick heads…THE INSURANCE AND PHARMACUTICAL INDUSTRY CARE ONLY ABOUT PROFITS, NOT YOU OR YOUR FAMILY. Not one person posting here would say what they would do if they found themselves without health insurance tomorrow or that an illness they may suffer would be determined to be pre-existing. How would they then feel looking at a medical bill possibly in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Would they feel just as good about not having health care reform as they put a lien on your house or paycheck. That’s the real world, not the BS you suck in like sheep by these lowlifes who only want to continue seeing profits going up. Example, they don’t want government setting prices on drugs. Gee, no mystery there since the same drug you pay 3-4 bucks a pill for 90 days around 350 bucks. Meanwhile you can get the same medicine in Canada for 35 bucks, same dose, same 90 day supply. Drug name…Plavix. I should know, I use it. How’s that for ripping off Americans. Still want more of this…try Lipitor, same prices here, way different prices in Canada and Europe. Both multi billion dollars gold mines for the drug industry. Now they figured out how to put you on erectile drugs on everyday maintenance. One pill every day, instead of when you would want to. They are all about hooking you on daily drugs for life, not curing anything. We like sheep follow, thinking we got the best in the world. No wonder only two countries allow advertising drugs, the USA and New Zealand. Rest of the world knows better. We obviously don’t and they, the insurance and drug companies know how stupid and gullible we Americans are. Keep playing into their hands and playing their game, you will lose every time.
Posted by: jake | September 12, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am
Fear mongering is now the hope and change we voted for? Also, he’s got to lose the finger wagging.
Posted by: bct | September 12, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am
The left can make up all the fake numbers they want…. the web is full of them … just pick and choose the ones you want to make an irrelevant point….. the bottom line IS BO’s numbers are meaningless propaganda … all he is doing is trying to scare citizens….. so he can get his Socialist Healthfare agenda passed.
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 10:15 am 10:15 am
We need jobs not scare tactics.
Posted by: bct | September 12, 2009, 10:17 am 10:17 am
The left can make up all the fake numbers they want…. the web is full of them … just pick and choose the ones you want to make an irrelevant point….. the bottom line IS BO’s numbers are meaningless propaganda … all he is doing is trying to scare citizens….. so he can get his Socialist Healthfare agenda passed.
Posted by: ABC_BOSpinMachine | September 12, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am
Jake- the insurance company profits average 3%. This is extremely low. Bashing the only efficient health care operation in existence is pointless and not supported by the facts.
Posted by: brian | September 12, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am
If you don’t think the health insurance industry only cares about profits, pray that you never find yourself or a loved one seriously ill or dead because they did not cover an illness or examination, or because they withheld information they knew would be devestating to their drug sales. They will fight you in court with their million dollar lawyers, making you look appear to be responsible for it. You don’t stand a chance once they parade a ton of paid “experts” that will find something in you to blame for your liver or kidney loss, heart attack, or other life threatening condition. How many times do we have to see this over and over again before it sinks in?
Posted by: jake | September 12, 2009, 10:21 am 10:21 am
He is right. There is a long history of insured people losing health insurance or their jobs (so employers don’t have to pay higher health care premiums) when they become ill. There’s even a name for it–rescission.
We need strong health care reform now!
Posted by: JAB | September 12, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am
So many different stories from this guy, he has lost his credibility
All I know is Im very sorry I voted for him!
Posted by: Dr342 | September 12, 2009, 10:26 am 10:26 am
The 3% profit number you throw out is not exactly right. That is after the hundreds of millions they spend on advertising, marketing, and Executive compensation which of course goes into the hundreds of millions too. It’s not just the CEO who gets millions, but all the “big guys” in the company too. And all this BS about how much money they spend on research is just that BS. All the heavy research is done by government labs, university labs, and third party research centers. What the drug companies do is take the “blueprint” of their work to tailor and fashion drugs based on that body of work done by others. Exxon also claims their profit margins are low too comparing it to other industries. Do you also think that too when you pay 3 plus for a gallon of gas? Or when you pay 4 bucks for a pill you can buy in Canada for 40 cents?
Posted by: jake | September 12, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am
So many different stories from this guy, he has lost his credibility
All I know is Im very sorry I voted for him!
Posted by: Dr342 | September 12, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Obama is right. It happened to ME!
Posted by: harvard | September 12, 2009, 10:34 am 10:34 am
Scare tactics? I’m not sure what country you live in. You don’t know anyone that lost health insurance when they lost their job? You don’t know anyone that is fearful of losing their job and their health insurance? Your premiums haven’t doubled over the last ten years?
I am a small business owner. I am definitely scared that I can no longer afford to pay insurance for my employees. They are all scared for this too. I have been taking a pay cut of my own just so I can keep my employees covered. I care about them deeply. I have had to raise rates and change plans just to keep them covered. If you don’t see health care reform as an economic and moral issue, then I don’t know what country you are living in.
Posted by: mikenj | September 12, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Health insurance reform is essential for job creation. Small businesses and innovation are hurt by our current system which favors the rich and powerful corporations vs small businesses and start-ups that cannot afford to provide health insurance to their employees. Employees in big companies are reluctant to risk the health of their families to follow their dream.
Posted by: ahumbleopinion | September 12, 2009, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Joe Wilson , despite his shameful behavior during President Obama’s speech, is happy to have government health care for himself and his family – he just doesn’t want it for you.
“As a 31-year Army Guard and Reserve veteran, I know the importance of TRICARE,” he said in a press release. “The number of individuals who choose to enroll in TRICARE continues to rise because TRICARE is a low cost, comprehensive health plan that is portable and available in some form world-wide.” He went on to call TRICARE “world class health care,” concluding on a personal note. “I am grateful to have four sons now serving in the military, and I know that their families appreciate the availability of TRICARE,” he said.
Posted by: ahumbleopinion | September 12, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am
Americans love to think that everything in America is perfect and so is their health care system.
It’s widely known that every empire in the world collapses when they aren’t able to pay their bills. That’s what happened to the Roman and the British empires and that’s what is going to happen to America very very soon.
China is growing fast and, if the way of thinking in America don’t change quickly, it will overcome America’s economic supremacy in 10 years. All will be left for Americans is a deep regret of not having done what was necessary in time.
Pay attention to your president and don’t change sides so easily. Changing thinks is never easy, specially when you have to fight dirty people like the Republicans your have in your country.
Posted by: Joao C Fonsecaj | September 12, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am
Brian is you think that the insurance industry is efficient, then you know next to nothing about health care coverage, health care delivery systems, and why we as a society have one of the world’s worst health care policy in the world. To accept what we have rather than change it is to accept profits over good health. These two cannot exist together, profits will always decide the extent and nature of “good health”, not the other way around. The rest of the civilized world knows this, we obviously don’t or cannot understand such a simple concept as this.
Posted by: jake | September 12, 2009, 10:48 am 10:48 am
This guy is scrounging through bag of tricks trying to find new and different fear tactics. Give it up Obama, responsible people know precisely what they want and need.
Posted by: rplat | September 12, 2009, 10:51 am 10:51 am
He is right. There is a long history of insured people losing health insurance or their jobs (so employers don’t have to pay higher health care premiums) when they become ill. There’s even a name for it–rescission.
We need strong health care reform now!
Posted by: JAB | Sep 12, 2009 10:22:42 AM
**
I agree and urge everyone to get outside their ideology a bit and investigate. The same people who are saying he’s a liar also said the fundamentals of the economy were strong during Bush’s terms, right? Some still defend it’s economic and domestic policies. Or they say, “don’t look back.” Hence, you don’t hear one of them touting Thursday’s annual Census Bureau report on income, poverty and access to health care. During Bush’s two terms, the median household income declined, poverty increased, childhood poverty increased more, and the number of Americans without health insurance spiked. In contrast, the country’s condition improved on each of those measures during Bill Clinton’s two terms. Bush is the only president in recent history to preside over an income decline through two presidential terms despite business expansion– and if you lop of the disaster that was 2008, it still holds true! People were worse off income wise than they were in 2000, and there health care cost more, if they still had it. And here’s the thing– the Republican Party still believes Bush’s policies — the ones that failed so miserably and created the hella mess we’re fighting to clean up — were right. They’d do it all again. GOP lawmakers endorsed these failures as they occurred, and, stunningly, don’t regret their positions. They point fingers.
Mr. President, you and the democratic leadership won overwhelming majorities because americans, yes, real americans, yes true americans, were fed up with the GOP and their disastrous policies. We need health care reform, and we support your efforts.
Posted by: Alyson | September 12, 2009, 10:52 am 10:52 am
“He [Obama] warned that “the uninsured” is not just some phantom group – that it could happen to you.”
And to help make his point, Obama is doing everything possible to put more and more Americans out of work. After all, he needs a crisis for his incessant fearmongering to be effective. Saul Alinsky would be so proud of his dream student.
Posted by: Stacey | September 12, 2009, 10:55 am 10:55 am
It happened to me. I am a breast cancer survivor. And no 6 years later most won’t touch me the others want more than I make in a month for coverage. Go Obama, Go Universal Healthcare.
Posted by: insight | September 12, 2009, 10:57 am 10:57 am
1 of 2
I will speak the truth and will in no way, shape, or form, apologize for doing so. With that said, note the following very carefully:
Barack Obama recently quoted for the koran and stated that “Whoever kills an innocent is guilty as if he’s killed ALL mankind”.
I wonder where that leaves him in light of his his historically unprecedented and sinister position of murdering infants in the womb, as shown by his 4 times over NO-VOTES against the born-alive-infant-protection-act? Additionally, this deceiver who claims to be a Chrisitan conversely quotes from the koran on the one hand, and tries using the Word of God from the Bible on the other, stating that “some are bearing false witness”, and “I am my brother’s keeper”.
NOTE: A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways….James 1:8
Also: No man can serve two master….Matthew 6:24a
Posted by: James Adams | September 12, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
When is ABC news going to report objective facts and not biases base on Obama and the Democrat party policy.Where was ABC news in not reporting on Van Jones,Acorn,TEA parties, and the 9/12 protest.
Posted by: richard potter | September 12, 2009, 11:01 am 11:01 am
People also lose their jobs, thus their insurance. The CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER is the deficit/debt and it is being ignored.
What good is government run insurance when the nation is bankrupt?
Before I really developed an interest in politics but wanted to exercise my right to vote, not kowing any of the candidates I just voted for change. My philosophy being that they shouldn’t remain in office long enough to builds seniority and get comfortable. I am beginning to think that I was right on target.
My current thoughts at the federal level are:
1. No retirement, let them SERVE one or two terms, then come back home and get a life.
2. Severe pay cut, the average congressional salary is $173K, about $130K higher than the average wage/salary on the street.
3. No seniority, no raises except to keep salaries equal to the average wage/salary on the street.
The republican party may think the tea parties, opposition to cap and tax and opposition to government healthcare is something to take comfort in. Not so, instead it is a feeling of disenfranchisement that has united independents with the disillusioned of both parties.
Posted by: Ed Taylor | September 12, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am
Health Care reform needs to happen. I am a full time grad student and I have worked full time in the service industry (bartender) for 4 years. I have been without health insurance for the entire time. I have been to the DR’s 1 time in 4 years and that was for a work related injury. I am in no way looking for socialized medicine its an unreal expectation now in the US. I would just like a cheaper alternative to buying health insurance for 200-300 bucks a month for a single individual. And I am pretty healthy, I can only imagine how much it would cost if I had real medical issues.
Posted by: Colin | September 12, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am
ahumbleopinion – small businesses and job creation are stymied by high taxes and government over regulation. Obama’s healthcare reform proposals are paid for (nothing is free!) by businesses and ‘the rich’. (When was the last time you worked for someone poor.) Increased healthcare mandates and taxes by the government will slow job creation. if this passes, it could lock in permanent 9+% unemployment. I’d rather have a flexible, expanding job market than more government bureaucracy ‘to take care of me’.
Posted by: bct | September 12, 2009, 11:06 am 11:06 am
Rasmussen (choice pollster of conservatives) also shows increased support for the health care reform plan:
Saturday, September 12, 2009
New Rasmussen Reports national polling – conducted over the two nights following the speech – shows that 47% of Americans now favor the plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats. That’s up from 43% at the end of August and from 44% earlier this week.
Forty-nine percent (49%) of voter remain opposed to the plan, but it marks the first time opposition has fallen below 50% in weeks.
Posted by: Numeros | September 12, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am
Treasury officials said these numbers don’t just affect lower-income Americans. Forty-five percent of Americans with a household income ranging between $50,000 and $100,000 annually undergo a period without insurance over a decade, the study found.
==============
“A period” is hardly definitive. How long is this period? Why are they going without insurance?
I absolutely believe people who are out of work need to be able to get health care, and insurance can be ridiculously expensive especially for someone without an income.
But for every person who gets subsidized insurance, someone else is paying. I suppose it’s possible to tax everybody more when they work to put money into a fund for the temporarily uninsured.
The bottom line is you can’t keep adding people to the ranks of people getting subsidized by the government without asking someone else to pay more on their behalf.
Obama’s problem is that he is unwilling to discuss the costs and sacrifices he’s going to have to ask people to make.
Posted by: MayBee | September 12, 2009, 11:25 am 11:25 am
We have pass social security, medicare with republican opposition. We should just pass Obama’s healthcare reform without them. And watch them sign up for the public option like they do with SS and medicare. History dictates the republicans are always on the wrong side.
But they come around eventually.
Posted by: hybridhealthcare | September 12, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am
The insurance companies make huge profits. The corrupt administration in power at the moment can’t wait to get their share of that pie. They want to get their hands on the huge profits. Everyone is going to be required to pay into this system whether they use it or not. Most aren’t going to use it, so the money that you’re being forced to pay into this scam is going somewhere. The government is beyond broke at this point so it needs all the money it can get. I’m sure plenty will be skimmed off by corrupt organizations and individuals too.
Posted by: Susan F. | September 12, 2009, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Here’s why it’s increasingly difficult to give a fig what people on the far right say: today, people are carrying around preprinted signs distributed by the American Life League that say: Bury Obamacare with Kennedy. Real classy. Apparently ALL is the type of “pro-life” group that thinks it’s okay there are more people without insurance and health care access today than there was pre-Bush, and that it would be horrible to increase the number of insureds and fix issues with pre-existing conditions and so on. They don’t care about reform, or pushing for ideas that work. They just want to bury reform. Just say no. (Eyeroll.)
On the other hand, we have a president who wants to do something and get it right. Quote of the day, from an interview with 60 minutes that will air tomorrow–
“I have no interest in having a bill get passed that fails. That doesn’t work… once this bill passes, I own it. And if people look and say, ‘You know what? This hasn’t reduced my costs. My premiums are still going up 25 percent, insurance companies are still jerking me around.’ I’m the one who’s going to be held responsible. So I have every incentive to get this right.”
– President Obama
Posted by: Alyson | September 12, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
hybridhealthcare,
80% of the republicans in congress in 1935 voted in favor of social security. and apparently you think abraham lincoln was on the “wrong side”, since history shows republicans are always on the wrong side. you do know he was a republican, right? where did you study history?
Posted by: davidfrat21 | September 12, 2009, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
according to the president, the “bad guys” in the health care debate are: republicans, doctors, hospitals, insurance companies (and their lawyers), radio talkshow hosts, fast food companies, “big” pharmacy, private employers, and “big” agriculture (surely i missed some). and the only honest ones are obama and those who support him. i can’t see how anyone could be skeptical of him.
Posted by: davidfrat21 | September 12, 2009, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
Sure it could be me,but I’d just get another job and get some more health care. It is not the governments job to provide health care for the young and able.Nor is it the Governments job to prop up big businesses Or Insurance companies. Failure is part of a free market system,Not Government intervention. Get Big Government off our Backs and out of our Pockets.
Posted by: Marion | September 12, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
“I would just like a cheaper alternative to buying health insurance for 200-300 bucks a month for a single individual.”
Give up cable TV.
Posted by: Frugal | September 12, 2009, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
Umm..Mr Prez, there’s about 2 million people here in DC that want to talk to you…what an odd day to jet outta town.
Yellow
Posted by: mjishernameo | September 12, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
“You Lie”! Indeed….
Posted by: dimli | September 12, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
“Sure it could be me,but I’d just get another job and get some more health care.”
Marion, you may be just the person America needs to help lower the high unemployment rate. Tell those lazy 10% of Americans to just get another job, easy as pie! You would also need to explain how to narrow their job searches down to the 63% of employers who even offer health insurance. Then, out of that 63%, how to find those employers who don’t have long waiting periods before insurance coverage kicks in. Easy-peasy, should be a breeze!
Posted by: WWW | September 12, 2009, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
Believe these words: WHEN GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IT ISNT TO DO GOOD FOR YOU OR ME IT IS FOR THEMSELVES. Protest government NOW!
Posted by: Punky Mama | September 12, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
If you think he “lied”, then you should subscribe to the Health Industry’s Newsletter. I’m sure you’ll find all you need to know there. They have no other motive but to see you get the best health care possible. And while you’re at it, subscribe also to Santa’s Newsletter, it’s full of true stories about a fat man going down millions of hot chimminies much too small for his size, all in one night. Yeah, right up your alley, fantasy, fairy tales, and fools.
Posted by: jake | September 12, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
Believe these words: WHEN GOVERNMENT GETS INVOLVED IT ISNT TO DO GOOD FOR YOU OR ME IT IS FOR THEMSELVES. Protest government NOW!
_____________________________________
Nonsense – roadways, bridges, fire department, libraries, policing, military, safety standards and monitoring for pharmaceuticals, products, electrical codes . .. and so on.
Your posting is an inaccurate generalization.
Posted by: bonnytruth | September 12, 2009, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
people are carrying around preprinted signs —-posted by Alyson
I believe you need glasses, the ones who have pre-printed signs are the ones distributed by UNIONS and ACORN, the rest of us make our own. But thats above your head.
Posted by: Lizzie | September 12, 2009, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
Mr. Obama,
I am uninsured right now. Yet I pay for my bills just fine right now when I get sick.. Now you want me to pay for mandatory insurance, and still pay for illegals at hospitals? You have to be crazy! What happened to each and every one of the 800 plus amendments and individual pieces of legislation offered by the republicans in the last three months.. Oh each and every one has been rejected.. Open door for compromise my foot. Keep pushing and see what happens..
Posted by: Benjamin Kilsworth | September 12, 2009, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm
NEW YORK — The nation marked the eighth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with rain-soaked remembrances and acts of volunteerism honoring those who rushed into danger to help.
Around the country, Americans packed up care packages for soldiers, planted gardens for low-income families and painted abandoned, boarded-up homes. The anniversary Friday was declared a day of service for the first time this year to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives to save others from the burning World Trade Center.
_-______________________________
And others took the opportunity to spread their filth and hate on blogs.
Posted by: bonnytruth | September 12, 2009, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Is this the guy that said fear mongering and scare tactics have to stop? Then in the address he said if we don’t act quickly then “more will die”. Now this scare tactic, everyone could lose their insurance at some point. How about addressing the issues and stop with the scare rhetoric?
Posted by: Tony T | September 12, 2009, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Nice try Mr. Socialize President……back to the FEAR FACTOR smack talk…….Snobama sounds of talk is like a broken record!!! BLAH BLAH BLAH …..add another 2 trillion to the deficit with health care.The tide is turning for Mr. Socialize Snobama….he runs away today……. Too many voices around the Capitol today for Rabbit ears Snobama.
Posted by: Independence | September 12, 2009, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
“Nonsense – roadways, bridges, fire department, libraries, policing, military, safety standards and monitoring for pharmaceuticals, products, electrical codes . .. and so on.”
Roadways and bridges? You mean the ones that are in ruin and/or falling down? Fire, libraries and policing are not federal. Safety standards do not cost trillions. Monitoring for pharmaceuticals? Not sure not the heck you are talking about there. But NONE of the items you listed cost trillions, and are not required. Competition for Americans on health care could be FREE. Selling across state lines. But why do something free when you can create 50+ new bureaucracies and borrow trillions more that we can’t afford. common sense stuff.
Posted by: Tony T | September 12, 2009, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
What I don’t understand is why those who say “get government out of health care” aren’t saying, “get government out of roads and bridges”.
Wouldn’t we be better off if all roads and bridges were privately owned and we had to pay tolls every time we changed roads? That would make things more efficient, because “government is ALWAYS less efficient” according to the great minds that post on these pages.
And red lights! What a waste of public money! Let the motorists freely compete for who gets to pass through an intersection.
And street lights. It’s not government’s business whether or not you stumble in the dark. Let private companies put up lights above advertising signs like they did on the main street in ancient Ephesus.
Of course, those on Medicare have the option of the straight government-run version or an alternative plan offered by private companies: which costs the government 14% more than its own plan. That sure is mystifying!
Posted by: The_Mick | September 12, 2009, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
“It can happen to anyone”…it could
NEVER happen to Obama and his acolytes.
Besides, who could’ve thought that
Obama could ever happen to America?
I guess it happened. We are the worse
for it. “Stuff” happens.
Posted by: Trajan | September 12, 2009, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
“If Obama was really concerned about people losing their insurance then he would be focusing on job creation not this waste of a program.”
Bingo. I have several unemployed friends. Healthcare is the least of their concerns. They need JOBS to pay their bills.
But look at it from Obama’s perspective. The worse unemployment gets, and the more damage he does to the private sector, the more he can push FEAR and government interference. The more he can foster dependence.
What he’s doing is no accident.
Posted by: Jenn | September 13, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am
It is true, if Obama focused on jobs the health care situation would subside on its own. Having taken the illegal aliens out of the health care equation, the remaining Americans just need jobs.
Posted by: Jordan | September 13, 2009, 1:18 pm 1:18 pm
Thank you, Mr. President, for pointing out yet another fact about the 30 million uninsured you’re always yakking about….many millions of them are only uninsured TEMPORARILY. And oh, by the way, many of them are also uninsured VOLUNTARILY.
Take out the illegal aliens, the temporarily uninsured, the voluntarily uninsured, those eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, and SHCIP and what have you got? Not that many. Not nearly enough to justify the creation of a montser like HR3200.
Posted by: Bridget | September 13, 2009, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm
5
Posted by: get real | September 13, 2009, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
“I am in no way looking for socialized medicine its an unreal expectation now in the US. I would just like a cheaper alternative to buying health insurance for 200-300 bucks a month for a single individual.”
You’ll likely not be getting that from Obamacare. What you will be likely to get is a requirement that you purchase heath insurance that will cost you considerably more than $200-$300 per month. $300 per month is roughly what the fine will cost you if you choose to remain uninsured as you are now.
Posted by: Bridget | September 13, 2009, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm
Is anyone going to ask Obama where those 16 millioon people went?
what did he do with them?
Posted by: drjohn | September 13, 2009, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
Ahhhh, the politics of fear. Works for both parties, I guess.
Posted by: Steve | September 14, 2009, 11:28 am 11:28 am
Common sense tells us a public health insurance option will finally bring some competition to the health insurance industry.
As for all those who think just getting a job means you have insurance, think again. Only 63% offer insurance, and some of that is crummy insurance or it doesn’t kick in for months.
Many small businesses can’t afford to give health insurance to their employees so they can’t compete for the best workers.
If every other industrialized nation provides a public insurance option, surely we can figure out how to.
Posted by: Lydia | September 14, 2009, 10:57 pm 10:57 pm