President Obama Radio Address 09/12/09

[0:12] ..." is so urgent and important. I've heard from Americans who can't get health coverage men and women who worry that one accident or illness could drive them into bankruptcy. And I've heard from Americans with insurance who thought that the uninsured always referred to someone else. But between skyrocketing cost of insurance company practices. Are beginning to worry that they could find themselves in Schwartz who. It's an anxiety that's keeping more and more Americans -- last twelve months nearly six million more Americans lost their health coverage at 17000. Men and women every single day. We're just talking about Americans in poverty. We're talking about middle class Americans. In other words they can happen to anyone. And based on a brand new report from the Treasury Department we can expect that about half of all Americans under 65. Will lose their health coverage at some point over the next ten years. If you're under the age of 21 today chances are more than half the -- find yourself uninsured at some point in that time. And more than 13 of Americans will go without coverage for longer than one year I refused to allow that future happen. In the United States of America no one should have to worry that they'll go without health insurance now for one year not one month 41 day. And once I signed my health reform plan into law they want. My plan will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance offer quality affordable choices to those who currently don't. And bring health care cost for our families our businesses and our government"...

[2:58] ..." will be paid for. The middle class will realize greater security not higher taxes. And if we can successfully slow the growth of health care costs by just 110 of 1% each year. You'll actually reduce"...

[3:59] ..." then join us. Give us your help. And we will finally get health insurance reform done this."...

[0:00]" Wednesday I addressed a joint session of congress and the American people about why we need -- insurance reform and what it will take to do. Since then I've continued to hear from many Americans across the country about why this is so urgent and important. I've heard from Americans who can't get health coverage men and women who worry that one accident or illness could drive them into bankruptcy. And I've heard from Americans with insurance who thought that the uninsured always referred to someone else. But between skyrocketing cost of insurance company practices. Are beginning to worry that they could find themselves in Schwartz who. It's an anxiety that's keeping more and more Americans -- last twelve months nearly six million more Americans lost their health coverage at 17000. Men and women every single day. We're just talking about Americans in poverty. We're talking about middle class Americans. In other words they can happen to anyone. And based on a brand new report from the Treasury Department we can expect that about half of all Americans under 65. Will lose their health coverage at some point over the next ten years. If you're under the age of 21 today chances are more than half the -- find yourself uninsured at some point in that time. And more than 13 of Americans will go without coverage for longer than one year I refused to allow that future happen. In the United States of America no one should have to worry that they'll go without health insurance now for one year not one month 41 day. And once I signed my health reform plan into law they want. My plan will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance offer quality affordable choices to those who currently don't. And bring health care cost for our families our businesses and our government under control. First of -- if you are among hundreds of millions of Americans who already have insurance through your job or Medicare or Medicaid or the DA. Nothing in my plan -- are you or your order to change the coverage or the doctor you have. While my plan will do is make the insurance you have worked better few. Make it illegal for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of preexisting condition or drop your coverage when you get sick or water down when you need it the most. The no longer be able to play 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 should go broke just because they gets. Second if you're one of the more than thirty million Americans who can't get coverage you finally have quality affordable choices. If you lose your job change your job we'll start your own business you won't be able to get comfort. And as I've said over and over again I would not sign a plan that adds one dime toward deficits. Period. This plan will be paid for. The middle class will realize greater security not higher taxes. And if we can successfully slow the growth of health care costs by just 110 of 1% each year. You'll actually reduce the deficit by four trillion dollars over the long term. Affordable quality care within the reach of tens of millions of Americans who don't have -- today. Stability and security for hundreds of millions who do -- for reform we seek. We have had a long and important debate but now's the time for action. Because every day we wait more Americans will lose their health care the businesses and their homes but also the dreams paperwork for and the peace of mind they -- They are why we have to succeed. So if you're going to put country before party in the interest of our children about -- If you refuse to settle for politics -- scored points is more important than solving problems. And if you believe as I do that America can still come together to do great things then join us. Give us your help. And we will finally get health insurance reform done this."