President Obama called health coverage "a right," not a privilege as he delivered a final appeal Thursday to urge uninsured Americans to sign up for insurance required under his administration's landmark health care law.
President Obama called health coverage “a right,” not a privilege as he delivered a final appeal Thursday to urge uninsured Americans to sign up for insurance required under his administration’s landmark health care law.
“In the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one should go broke just because they get sick,” he said. “In the United States of America, health care is not a privilege for the fortunate few, it is a right.”
His remarks come five days before people can sign up for insurance in the new online marketplaces, a time period that lasts until March 2014. A small fine applies to those who don’t comply with the law. “Tell your friends, tell your family,” Obama said as he urged the public to sign up.
Obama discussed the benefits of the law from expanded coverage to cheaper options, including the opportunity the bill allows for users to comparison-shop among plans, while allowing that there would be some “glitches” in its rollout. His goal is to cover the 15% of Americans who live without health insurance. He began his remarks shortly before 11 a.m. from Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.
Individual insurance premiums are projected to be lower for 95% of Americans, according to a report released Wednesday by the Department of Health and Human Services. The costs are expected to be an average of $328 per month, but will vary by state, family size, and annual income.
GOP leaders have pushed for Congress to defund Obamacare, but the Supreme Court voted last year to uphold the law. The Obama administration has delayed several components of the law including a rule that stipulates businesses with more than 50 employees must provide insurance and a special insurance exchange designed for small businesses.
Some Republican leaders, including Mike Lee of of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas, recently threatened a government shutdown over the health care law. The Republican-led House last week passed a stop-gap spending bill that will fund the government through Dec. 15, but also stripped funding from the Obama administration’s health care law. The Democrat-controlled Senate is expected to reject that proposal–despite a Sen. Cruz 21-hour fake filibuster–and the White House has said it would veto anything that threatens the health care law.
“We are going to see it through,” Obama said Thursday despite a GOP attempt to put up “every conceivable roadblock.”
“The Affordable Care Act is here.”