President Obama Addresses Health Care Reform

Obama's health care address began with a summary of the good that has come from his new administration. He is clear that health care reform is necessary to create a better and stronger America. He notes that "if we do not control these costs we will not be able to reform health care. Your premiums and out of pocket costs will continue to skyrocket. If we don't act 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health care everyday."

He outlines a need for reform that will give you the option to keep your insurance if you are happy with it, while preventing being dropped from coverage or from losing coverage all together if you lose your job or move. He wants to keep out-of-pocket costs to a minimum and cover preventative care like checkups and mammograms that save lives and money. He explains that if you don't have coverage you can choose a quality affordable health plan from a network of different companies No insurance company can deny you for preexisting illnesses and he would like to do all this without adding to the current deficit or leading to new taxes.

He stresses that the bill needs to be completed by August but that it should also look to changing the face of health care over time. Doctors and nurses are supporting his idea that they need to be able to "provide the best coverage instead of the most expensive coverage." Although he is in a rush to solve the health care crisis he wants to assure the American people that he won't sign through a bill that is not ready or that does not fully serve the people. He wants the bill to help seniors with their health care costs and will help with prescription costs.

He is clear that health care reform isn't about Democrats and Republicans, it isn't about him as a president or anyone else in congress or the house. Its about the families and individuals who are shouldering the burden of an overpriced health care system and its about the businesses who are forced to drop coverages or pass on costs to employees.

So where can we get the money? He explains that 2/3s of the cost will come from tax dollars being spent on unnecessary projects. The other 1/3 is being discussed but he was clear that he did "not want the middle class to be burdened with shouldering" the excess costs.

Will the average American have to give up anything in order to get affordable government health care? "They will have to give up paying for things that don't make them healthier," things such as repeated unnecessary tests and a lack of coordination between doctors offices.

President Obama chose not to emphasize the right side or wrong side of the issue. Instead his straight forward speech outlined as simply as possible his plans for a reformed health care that will benefit all Americans rich or poor.