奥巴马总统在白宫玫瑰园就《平价医疗法案》英语演讲稿

奥巴马总统在白宫玫瑰园就《平价医疗法案》英语演讲稿THEPRESIDENT:Everybdy,haveaseat.

MS.BAKER:Hell.MynameisJaniceBaker.IhavetheprivilegetsaythatImthefirstpersninthestatefDelawaretenrllfrhealthinsurancethrughthenewmarketplace.(Applause.)Likemanycnsumersutthere,ittkmeanumberffrustratingattemptsbefreIculdapplyfrandselectmyplan.IkepttryingbecauseIneededaccesstthenewhealthcareptins.

Ihadappliedtthreeprivateinsurancecmpaniesnlytberejectedduetpreeistinghealthcnditins.IamtyungfrMedicare,butImtldntthavesmehealthissues.IwasabletfindaplicyIamthrilledwith,saving$150amnth,andmuchlwerdeductiblesthanmypreviusplicythatIheldthrughmysmallbusiness.

Imheretdaytencuragetherpeplelikemewhneedsaccesstquality,affrdableinsurance,andttellthemthavepatiencewithsuchanewsystem.Withutthisabilitytgetthisinsurance,Iknwthatasinglehspitalstayculdhavebankruptedmeandmybusiness.

Thankyuall.AndIamnwhnredtintrducethePresidentftheUnitedStates.(Applause.)

THEPRESIDENT:Greatjb.

MS.BAKER:Thankyu.Thankyu.

THEPRESIDENT:Thankyu.(Applause.)Thankyu,everybdy.Well,thankyu,Janice.Andthanksteverybdyherefrcmingnthisbeautifulday.WelcmettheWhiteHuse.

Abutthreeweeksag,asthefederalgvernmentshutdwn,theAffrdableCareActshealthinsurancemarketplacespenedfrbusinessacrssthecuntry.Well,wevenwgttenthegvernmentbackpenfrtheAmericanpeple,andtdayIwantttalkabuthwweregingtgetthemarketplacesrunningatfullsteam,aswell.AndImjinedtdaybyflkswhhaveeitherbenefitedfrmtheAffrdableCareActalready,rwharehelpingtheirfellwcitizenslearnabutwhatthislawmeansfrthemandhwtheycangetcvered.

fcurse,yuveprbablyheardthatHealthCare.gvndash;-thenewwebsitewherepeplecanapplyfrhealthinsurance,andbrwseandbuyaffrdableplansinmststatesndash;-hasntwrkedassmthlyasitwassuppsedtwrk.Andthenumberfpeplewhhavevisitedthesitehasbeenverwhelming,whichhasaggravatedsmeftheseunderlyingprblems.

Despiteallthat,thusandsfpeplearesigningupandsavingmneyaswespeak.ManyAmericanswithapreeistingcnditin,likeJanice,arediscveringthattheycanfinallygethealthinsurancelikeeverybdyelse.

Stday,IwanttspeakteveryAmericanwhslkingtgetaffrdablehealthinsurance.Iwantyutknwwhatsavailabletyuandwhyitmaybeagddealfryu.Andfrthsewhvehadsmeprblemswiththewebsite,Iwantttellyuwhatweredingtmakeitwrkbetterandhwyucansignuptgetcveredintherways.

ButbefreIdthat,letmeremindeverybdythattheAffrdableCareActisntjustawebsite.Itsmuchmre.FrthevastmajrityfAmericans--fr85percentfAmericanswhalreadyhavehealthinsurancethrughyuremplyerrMedicarerMedicaid-ndash;yudntneedtsignupfrcveragethrughawebsiteatall.Yuvealreadygtcverage.WhattheAffrdableCareActdesfryuistprvideyuwithnewbenefitsandprtectinsthathavebeeninplacefrsmetime.Yumayntknwit,butyurealreadybenefitingfrmtheseprvisinsinthelaw.

Freample,becauseftheAffrdableCareAct,yungpeplelikeJasmineJennings,andJessicaUgalde,andEzraSalp,allfwhmareheretday,theyvebeenabletstayntheirparentsplansuntiltheyre26.Millinsftheryungpeplearecurrentlybenefitingfrmthatpartfthelaw.(Applause.)AntherpartftheAffrdableCareActisprvidingsenirswithdeeperdiscuntsntheirprescriptinmedicine.Billinsfdllarshavebeensavedbysenirsalready.Thatspartfthelaw.Itsalreadyinplace.Itshappeningrightnw.

Already,becauseftheAffrdableCareAct,preventivecarelikemammgramsandbirthcntrlarefreethrughyuremplyers.Thatspartfthislaw.(Applause.)Sthereareawiderangefcnsumerprtectinsandbenefitsthatyualreadyhaveifyuvegthealthinsurance.Yumaynthaventicedthem,butyuvegtthem,andtheyrentginganywhere.Andtheyrentdependentnawebsite.

HeresantherthingthattheAffrdableCareActdes.Instateswheregvernrsandlegislatureshavewiselyallwedit,theAffrdableCareActprvidesthepprtunityfrmanyAmericanstgetcveredunderMedicaidfrthefirsttime.Sinregn,freample,thatshelpedcutthenumberfuninsuredpepleby10percentjustinthelastthreeweeks.Thinkabutthat.reAmericanswhnwhavehealthcare.(Applause.)Thatdesntdependnawebsite.

Nw,ifyurenefthe15percentfAmericanswhdnthavehealthinsurance--eitherbecauseyucantaffrditrbecauseyuremplyerdesntfferit,rbecauseyureasmallbusinesspersnandyuhavetgutntheindividualmarketandbuyitnyurwnanditsjusttepensive--ctber1stwasanimprtantdate.Thatswhenwepenedthenewmarketplaceswherepeplewithuthealthinsurance,rwhcantaffrdhealthinsurance,rwharentpartfagrupplan,canfinallystartgettingverage.

Andtheideaissimple.Byenrllinginwhatwerecallingthesemarketplaces,yubecmepartfabiggrupplan--asifyuwerewrkingfrabigemplyer--astatewidegrupplanthatspreadsriskbetweensickpepleandhealthypeple,betweenyungandld,andthenbargainsnyurbehalffrthebestdealnhealthcare.Whatwevedneisessentiallycreateacmpetitinwheretherewasntcmpetitinbefre.Wecreatedthesebiggrupplans,andnwinsurersarereallyinterestedingettingyurbusiness.Andsinsurershavecreatednewhealthcareplanswithmrechicestbemadeavailablethrughthesemarketplaces.

Andasaresultfthischiceandthiscmpetitin,priceshavecmedwn.Whenyuaddthenewtacreditsthatmanypepleareeligiblefrthrughthelaw,thenthepricescmedwnevenfurther.SnestudyshwsthatthrughnewptinscreatedbytheAffrdableCareAct,nearly6in10uninsuredAmericanswillfindthattheycangetcveredfrlessthan$100amnth.Thinkabutthat.(Applause.)

Thrughthemarketplaces,yucangethealthinsurancefrwhatmaybetheequivalentfyurcellphnebillryurcablebill,andthatsagddeal.

SthefactistheprductftheAffrdableCareActfrpeplewithuthealthinsuranceisqualityhealthinsurancethatsaffrdable.Andthatprductiswrking.Itsreallygd.Anditturnsuttheresamassivedemandfrit.Sfar,thenatinalwebsite,HealthCare.gv,hasbeenvisitednearly20millintimes.Twentymillintimes.(Applause.)Andtheresgreatdemandatthestatelevelaswell,becausethereareabunchfstatesthatarerunningtheirwnmarketplaces.

Weknwthatnearlyne-thirdfthepepleapplyinginCnnecticutandMaryland,freample,areunder35yearsld.Theyunderstandthattheycangetagddealatlwcsts,havethesecurityfhealthcare,andthisisntjustfrldflkslikeme--thateverybdyneedsgdqualityhealthinsurance.Arethanhalfamillincnsumersacrssthecuntryhavesuccessfullysubmittedapplicatinsthrughfederalandstatemarketplaces.Andmanyfthseapplicatinsarentjustfrindividuals,itsfrtheirentirefamilies.Sevenmrepeplearealreadylkingtptentiallytakeadvantagefthehighquality,affrdableinsurancethatisprvidedthrughtheAffrdableCareAct.

Sletmejustrecaphere.Theprductisgd.Thehealthinsurancethatsbeingprvidedisgd.Itshighqualityanditsaffrdable.Peplecansavemney,significantmney,bygettinginsurancethatsbeingprvidedthrughthesemarketplaces.Andweknwthatthedemandisthere.Peplearerushingtseewhatsavailable.Andthsewhhavealreadyhadachancetenrllarethrilledwiththeresult.Everyday,peplewhwerestuckwithsky-highpremiumsbecausefpreeistingcnditinsaregettingaffrdableinsurancefrthefirsttime,rfinding,likeJanicedid,thattheyresavingaltfmney.Everyday,wmenarefinallybuyingcveragethatdesntchargethemhigherpremiumsthanmenfrthesamecare.(Applause.)Everyday,peplearediscveringthatnewhealthinsuranceplanshavetcvermaternitycare,mentalhealthcare,freepreventivecare.

SyujustheardJanicesstry--shewnsherwnsmallbusiness.SherecentlybecamethefirstwmantenrllincveragethrughDelawaresechange.Anditstrue,ittkherafewtries,butitwaswrthitafterbeingturneddwnfrinsurancethreetimesduetminrpreeistingcnditins.Snwshellbecvered,shellsave150bucksamnth,andshewnthavetwrrythatneillnessraccidentwillcstherherbusinessthatsheswrkedshardtbuild.

AndJaniceisntalne.IrecentlyreceivedaletterfrmawmannamedJessicaSanfrdinWashingtnState.Andhereswhatshewrte:“Iamasinglemm,nchildsupprt,self-emplyed,andIhaventhadinsurancefr15yearsbecauseitstepensive.MysnhasADHDandrequiresregulardctrvisitsandhist$250permnth.IhavehadanngingtendinitisprblemduetmylinefwrkthatIhaventhadtreated.Nw,finally,wegetthavecveragebecauseftheACAfr$169permnth.IwascryingthetherdaywhenIsignedup.Smuchstresslifted.”

Nw,thatisntuntypicalfraltfflkslikeJessicawhhavebeenstrugglingwithuthealthinsurance.ThatswhattheAffrdableCareActisallabut.Thepintis,theessencefthelaw--thehealthinsurancethatsavailabletpeple--iswrkingjustfine.Insmecases,actually,itseceedingepectatins--thepricesarelwerthanweepected,thechiceisgreaterthanweepected.

Buttheprblemhasbeenthatthewebsitethatssuppsedtmakeiteasytapplyfrandpurchasetheinsuranceisntwrkingthewayitshuldfreverybdy.Andtheresnsugarcatingit.Thewebsitehasbeentslw,peplehavebeengettingstuckduringtheapplicatinprcess.AndIthinkitsfairtsaythatnbdyismrefrustratedbythatthanIam--preciselybecausetheprductisgd,Iwantthecashregisterstwrk.Iwantthecheckutlinestbesmth.SIwantpepletbeabletgetthisgreatprduct.Andtheresnecusefrtheprblems,andtheseprblemsaregettingfied.

Butwhilewerewrkingutthekinksinthesystem,Iwanteverybdytunderstandthenatureftheprblem.Firstfall,evenwithalltheprblemsatHealthCare.gv,thewebsiteisstillwrkingfraltfpeple--justntasquickrefficientrcnsistentaswewant.Andalthughmanyftheseflkshavefundthattheyhadtwaitlngerthantheywanted,pletetheprcesstheyreveryhappywiththedealthatsavailabletthem,justlikeJanices.

Secnd,Iwanteverybdytrememberthatwerenlythreeweeksintasi-mnthpenenrllmentperid,whenyucanbuythesenewplans.(Applause.)KeepinmindtheinsurancedesntstartuntilJanuary1st;thatstheearliestthattheinsurancecankickin.NnewhdecidestpurchaseaplanhastpaytheirfirstpremiumuntilDecember15th.AndunlikethedayafterThanksgivingsalesfrthelatestPlaystatinrflat-screenTVs,theinsuranceplansdntrunut.Theyrentgingtsellut.Theyllbeavailablethrughthemarketplace--(applause)--thrughutthepenenrllmentperid.Thepricesthatinsurershavesetwillntchange.Severybdywhwantsinsurancethrughthemarketplacewillgetinsurance,perid.(Applause.)Everybdywhwantsinsurancethrughthemarketplacewillgetinsurance.

Third,wearedingeverythingwecanpssiblydtgetthewebsiteswrkingbetter,faster,sner.Wevegtpeplewrkingvertime,24/7,tbstcapacityandaddresstheprblems.EpertsfrmsmefAmericastpprivate-sectrtechcmpanieswh,bytheway,haveseenthingslikethishappenbefre,theywantittwrk.Theyrereachingut.Theyrefferingtsendhelp.WevehadsmefthebestITtalentintheentirecuntryjintheteam.Andwerewellinta“techsurge”tfitheprblem.Andwearecnfidentthatwewillgetalltheprblemsfied.

Numberfur--whilethewebsitewillultimatelybetheeasiestwaytbuyinsurancethrughthemarketplace,itisntthenlyway.AndIwanttemphasizethis.Evenasweredubleureffrtstgetthesitewrkingaswellasitssuppsedt,werealsredublingureffrtstmakesureyucanstillbuythesamequality,affrdableinsuranceplansavailablenthemarketplacetheld-fashinedway--ffline,eitherverthephnerinpersn.

And,bytheway,therearealtfpeplewhwantttakeadvantagefthiswharemrecmfrtablewrkingnthephneanywayrinpersn.Sletmegthrughthespecificsasthwyucandthatifyurehavingprblemswiththewebsiteryujustpreferdealingwithapersn.

Yesterday,weupdatedthewebsiteshmepagetffermreinfrmatinabutthetheravenuestenrllinaffrdablehealthcareuntilthenlineptinwrksfreverybdy.Syullfindinfrmatinabuthwttalktaspecialistwhcanhelpyuapplyverthephnertreceiveadwnladableapplicatinyucanfillutyurselfandmailin.

Wevrestafftthecallcenterswhereyucanapplyfrinsuranceverthephne.Thsearealready--theyvebeenwrking.Butaltfpeplehavedecidedfirsttgtthewebsite.Butkeepinmind,thesecallcentersarealreadyupandrunning.Andyucangetyurquestinsansweredbyrealpeple,24hursaday,in150differentlanguages.Thephnenumberfrthesecallcentersis1-800-318-2596.Iwanttrepeatthat--1-800-318-2596.Waittimeshaveaveragedlessthanneminutesfarnthecallcenters,althughIadmitthatthewaittimesprbablymightgupalittlebitnwthatIvereadthenumberutludnnatinaltelevisin.(Laughter.)

Butthepintisthecallcentersareavailable.Yucantalktsmebdydirect