Will This Come To Be Seen As Obama's Greatest Achievement?

[sandyRoe]

Last night, the first open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act came to an end.

And this afternoon, we announced that 7.1 million Americans have now signed up for private insurance plans through the new Health Insurance Marketplaces.

7.1 million.

That doesn't count the more than 3 million young adults who have gained insurance under this law by staying on their families' plans. It doesn't count the millions more who have gotten covered through the expansion of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. It doesn't include the more than 100 million folks who now have better care -- who are receiving additional benefits, like mammograms and contraceptive care, at no extra cost.

Now, millions of our fellow Americans have the comfort and peace of mind that comes with knowing they're no longer leaving their health and well-being to chance. For many of them, quality health insurance wasn't an option until this year -- maybe because they couldn't afford it, or because a pre-existing condition kept them locked out of a discriminatory system.

Today, that's changed. And while our long-broken health care system may not be completely fixed, it's without question a lot better. That's something to be proud of -- and there's no good reason to go back.

Regardless of your politics, or your feelings about the Affordable Care Act, millions more Americans with health coverage is something that's good for our economy and our country.

At the end of the day, that is what this law -- and the other reforms we're fighting for, from a 21st-century immigration system to a fairer wage for every American who's willing to work for it -- are all about:

Making sure our country lives up to our highest ideals.

I am thankful to be your President today, and every day. And I am proud that this law will continue to make life better for millions of Americans in the years to come.

Thank you.

President Barack Obama

[Ric.ror]

Is SandyRoe your alias then ;-))

No its brilliant for them - about time too - where we lead others follow

[sandyRoe]

He sometimes asks for my advice and sends e-mails telling of his progress in following it. I'm proud to have had a hand in this.

[Clanad]

Have you checked your meds lately? I don't know what you've been reading but the facts are completely different.

Fact 1. 7.1 million? Only a few weeks ago we were told the system could not provide enrollment numbers except on a monthly basis and that at as an estimate only but suddenly, immediately following the mandatory end of the enrollment period they are able to pinpoint to the percentage point the enrollment number.

Fact 2. The government still cannot state how many of the enrollees have actually purchased the insurance (unlike the single-payer British system). The system is much like Amazon, for example. You can go to the site and even place your selection in the "check-out cart" but until you actually pay for it you haven't enrolled.
Fact 3. The government won't make public how many of the legitimate enrollees are among an estimated 6 million that lost their pre-existing insurance plans when Obamacare's enactment caused insurance companies to cancel the plans since they supposedly didn't meet the new requirements.
Fact 4. The government refuses to divulge how much the new, required insurance programs will cost, how much the deductibles will be and how few Doctors and hospitals are actually covered within the 'networks'. Estimates so far, coming from the insurance companies, is that the 'new' insurance will cost an average of 25% to as much as 60% more in premiums alone as well as increased deductibles (out of pocket costs) nearly 40%.
Fact 5. Obama loudly and profusely promised at the beginning of the implementation that "If you like your insurance you can keep it and if you like your Doctor you can keep him/her... "Period". That has since been named the biggest lie of the year by several even liberal news papers. He, himself has admitted "miss-speaking".
Fact 6. The successful enrollment requires a 6 to 1 enrollment of healthy, young people who use very little of health system 'products' vs. older and less healthy citizens who use more to pay for the system It's not even coming close... and already we've been told that the government will subsidize the insurance companies to pay for the shortfall to the tune of over a "Trillion" (with a "T") dollars.
Fact 7. We were told the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was especially helpful to about 3 million citizens who could not afford health care insurance. To date, over 6 million (with millions more holding their breath) have had their insurance, which they liked, cancelled.

This is nothing like the single payer system in Europe and the U.K. The insurance companies still "sell" the insurance, just like before, only now they are government subsidized. The government has just compelted annexing 1/6th of the U.S. economy! My own Doctor, in a small, family clinic is faced with trying to find a computer software program (government mandated) for maintaining, electronically, the records that then have to be transmitted to the government for review to determine if one "qualifies" for the requested service. A new term has entered our medical lexicon... "Death Panels"... a group of faceless bureaucrats that will determine if one qualifies for a certain treatment.

And on and on...