President Obama Radio Address 8/15/09

[0:01] ..." This week I've been traveling across our country discuss health insurance reform and to hear directly from folks like you. Your questions or concerns and your sports. I know there's been a lot"...

[0:36] ..." stories I've heard it really underscored. Why I believe so strongly that health insurance reform is challenged we can't ignore. The stories like -- Hitchcock's squad met in New Hampshire this week. Or -- got a"...

[1:26] ..." for the American people. And that's why we are going to pass health insurance reform that finally holds the insurance companies accountable. But now the -- part because history is clear. Every time we come close to passing health insurance reform. The special interest -- the stake in the status quo used their influence and political allies to scare and mislead the American people. As an example let's look at one of this carrier sounding more ridiculous rumors out there. The so called death panels would decide whether senior citizens get to live or die. That -- began with the distortions of one idea in a congressional bill. That would allow Medicare to cover voluntary because -- your doctor to discuss north end of life care. If and only if you decide to have both spouses. They have nothing to do with putting government control"...

[2:48] ..." surprised. We've seen it before. When president Roosevelt was working to create Social Security opponents warned it would open the door to federal stupid and force Americans to -- politics. When president Kennedy and president jobs"...

[3:52] ..." know if they'll be the next to join the 14000. Lose their health insurance every single day. If we don't act average family premiums will keep rising to more than 22000. Dollars within a decade. On"...

[4:33] ..." watering down -- coverage when it counts. Because there's no point having health insurance it's not there when you need it. Insurance companies will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount"...

[5:05] ..." reason we shouldn't be saving lives and dollars by catching diseases like breast cancer and prostate cancer on the front. So that's what performance. For all the chatter in the -- out there what every American needs to know was this. If you don't have health insurance you'll finally have all the affordable options once we pass reform. If you do have health insurance will make sure that no insurance company or government bureaucrat it's between you and the care that you need. And we will"...

[0:01]" This week I've been traveling across our country discuss health insurance reform and to hear directly from folks like you. Your questions or concerns and your sports. I know there's been a lot of attention paid to some of the town hall meetings that are going on around the country especially those where tempers -- You know I'll TV loves raucous. We have NC. Because it's not as exciting. Are the many constructive meetings going on all over the country where Americans are airing their hopes and concerns about this very important issue. I've been hauling some -- and the stories I've heard it really underscored. Why I believe so strongly that health insurance reform is challenged we can't ignore. The stories like -- Hitchcock's squad met in New Hampshire this week. Or -- got a preexisting conditions so no insurance company will cover. She self employed and in this economy she can't find a job that offers health care so she's been uninsured for two years. Or their stories like Katie Gibbs -- Montana. When Katie tried to change insurance companies she was sure to list for pre existing conditions on the application. And even calls her new company to confirm should be covered. Two months later she was dropped after she'd already gone off or other insurance. Use our stories that are being told stories of health care system that works better for the insurance industry that it does for the American people. And that's why we are going to pass health insurance reform that finally holds the insurance companies accountable. But now the -- part because history is clear. Every time we come close to passing health insurance reform. The special interest -- the stake in the status quo used their influence and political allies to scare and mislead the American people. As an example let's look at one of this carrier sounding more ridiculous rumors out there. The so called death panels would decide whether senior citizens get to live or die. That -- began with the distortions of one idea in a congressional bill. That would allow Medicare to cover voluntary because -- your doctor to discuss north end of life care. If and only if you decide to have both spouses. They have nothing to do with putting government control your decisions in fact it would give you all the information you need. If you want it to put you in control of your decisions. When a conservative Republican senator who supported this idea. In fact had long fought for even more far reaching proposals. Found out how folks were twisting the idea he called their misrepresentation. And I quote. -- So when folks we have a stake in the status quo keep inventing these Bogeyman in an effort to scare people it's disappointing. But it's not surprised. We've seen it before. When president Roosevelt was working to create Social Security opponents warned it would open the door to federal stupid and force Americans to -- politics. When president Kennedy and president jobs working to create Medicare opponents warned of socialized medicine. Sound familiar. Not only were those fears -- never realized but more importantly those programs have saved the lives of tens of millions of seniors the disabled. And the disadvantage. Those who would stand in the way of reform will say almost anything to scare you about the cost of action. But they won't say much about the cost of inaction. If you're worried about rationed care higher costs denied coverage where bureaucrats getting between you and your doctor. You should know that that's what's happening right now. In the past three years over twelve million Americans were discriminated against by insurance companies due to a pre existing condition. -- their coverage -- dropped just when they got sick and needed it most. Americans whose jobs health care our secure today just don't know if they'll be the next to join the 14000. Lose their health insurance every single day. If we don't act average family premiums will keep rising to more than 22000. Dollars within a decade. On the other hand here's what reformed health care system will mean for you. First no matter what you heard if you like your doctor or health care plan. You can keep it. If you don't have insurance you'll finally be able to afford insurance. And everyone will have the security and stability that's missing today. Insurance companies will be prohibited from denying you coverage because your medical history. Dropping your coverage if you get sick or watering down -- coverage when it counts. Because there's no point having health insurance it's not there when you need it. Insurance companies will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or lifetime. And we will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out of pocket expenses. Because no one and America should go broke just because they get sick. Finally it will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups and preventive care like mammograms and colonoscopy is. Because there's no reason we shouldn't be saving lives and dollars by catching diseases like breast cancer and prostate cancer on the front. So that's what performance. For all the chatter in the -- out there what every American needs to know was this. If you don't have health insurance you'll finally have all the affordable options once we pass reform. If you do have health insurance will make sure that no insurance company or government bureaucrat it's between you and the care that you need. And we will deliver this -- fiscally responsible way. I know there's plenty of real concern skepticism -- I know that it in a time of economic of people the idea of change can be unsettling. I know that there are some folks who believe that government should have no role at all in solving our problems. These are legitimate differences worthy of the real discussion that America deserves. One where we've lower voices was the one another and talk about differences that really exist. Because while there may be disagreements over how to go about there is widespread agreement on the urgent need to reform a broken system. And finally hold insurance companies accountable. Nearly fifty years ago. In the midst of the noisy early battles to create what would become Medicare. President Kennedy said I refuse to see us live on the accomplishments of another generation. I refuse to see this country and all of us shrink from these struggles which are our responsibility. In our time. Now falls to us to meet the challenges of our time. And we can come together and listen to one another. I believe as I always had we will rise to this moment we'll build something better for our children and we will secure America's future in this news."