Obama Goes To the People On Health Care Reform
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Unable to rally support for his health care overhaul, President Barack Obama has turned to the public and his fellow democrats to gain backing for his fight against insurance companies.
Obama has said that the insurance companies are planning to make more money by denying coverage to some while ratcheting up rates on others.
"And they will keep doing this for as long as they can get away with it," Obama said in a speech Monday in suburban Philadelphia. "So how much higher do premiums have to rise until we do something about it?"
Obama attacked the Republican negligence of the years prior to his election and the Democratic majority of Congress, by asking where the motivation to do something about the conditions in the in insurance business.
In a backhanded comment to Republicans, Obama inquired that "You had 10 years. What happened? What were you doing?"
Obama is trying to gain the support of the public for his plan to remake the health care system, while also persuading lawmakers to cast a final vote on the new legislation in an election year, an effort that will prove to be difficult.
Insurance companies have been against the reform, saying that the real causes for the rising coverage rates are due to the high cost of prescription drugs, hospital stays and other costs related to medical conditions.
Obama met with top insurance executives last week to discuss the premium increases, and sought to have the companies post online information that would explain what the increases are related to.
"Since there's so little competition in the insurance industry, they're okay with people being priced out of health insurance because they’ll still make more by raising premiums on the customers they have," Obama said. "And they will keep doing this for as long as they can get away with it."
The speech on Monday, along with another set for Wednesday in St. Louis will continue the efforts made by the administration to shift the public’s view from the ongoing political debate over health care and onto how the new legislation can help consumers.
Obama has said that the insurance companies are planning to make more money by denying coverage to some while ratcheting up rates on others.
"And they will keep doing this for as long as they can get away with it," Obama said in a speech Monday in suburban Philadelphia. "So how much higher do premiums have to rise until we do something about it?"
Obama attacked the Republican negligence of the years prior to his election and the Democratic majority of Congress, by asking where the motivation to do something about the conditions in the in insurance business.
In a backhanded comment to Republicans, Obama inquired that "You had 10 years. What happened? What were you doing?"
Obama is trying to gain the support of the public for his plan to remake the health care system, while also persuading lawmakers to cast a final vote on the new legislation in an election year, an effort that will prove to be difficult.
Insurance companies have been against the reform, saying that the real causes for the rising coverage rates are due to the high cost of prescription drugs, hospital stays and other costs related to medical conditions.
Obama met with top insurance executives last week to discuss the premium increases, and sought to have the companies post online information that would explain what the increases are related to.
"Since there's so little competition in the insurance industry, they're okay with people being priced out of health insurance because they’ll still make more by raising premiums on the customers they have," Obama said. "And they will keep doing this for as long as they can get away with it."
The speech on Monday, along with another set for Wednesday in St. Louis will continue the efforts made by the administration to shift the public’s view from the ongoing political debate over health care and onto how the new legislation can help consumers.
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