Obama: Health care law worked, but improvements are necessary
President Barack Obama on Thursday defended his namesake health care program, long a target of Republicans and recently criticized by some Democrats, saying millions of Americans “now know the financial security of health insurance” because of the Affordable Care Act.
“It’s worked,” he said, even while allowing that the program isn’t perfect: “No law is.”
Less than two weeks before the Nov. 1 start of the enrollment period for Affordable Care Act health plans, Obama flew to Miami Dade College in South Florida to kick off a push by the administration to encourage more people to sign up, with a particular emphasis on young adults.
Obama is trying to burnish his legacy as the president who, after decades of failed attempts by Washington, finally brought health care to millions. But what he attempted Thursday was a difficult sales job, as the 2010 law faces new and troubling challenges.
Premiums are rising by double digits in many parts of the country and some major insurers have quit the program, leaving consumers with fewer choices next year and contributing to the rising prices that are plaguing the program.
The troubles have bolstered the arguments of Republicans and added some top Democratic allies to the law’s crowd of critics.
Former President Bill Clinton, while campaigning in support of his wife’s, presidential bid, called the Affordable Care Act “the craziest thing in the world.” Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton said it is “no longer affordable.”
In his remarks, Obama chalked up GOP criticism of the law to “nothing more than politics.”
He called on both parties to set aside the “political rhetoric” and “be honest about what’s working, what needs fixing and how we fix it.” He urged the next president and Congress to “take what we’ve learned over the past six years ... and make the ACA better.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan wasn’t buying the president’s pitch.
“At this point, one thing is clear. This law can’t be fixed,” Ryan said, calling for it to be replaced with “patient-centered reforms” that would give people more choice and control over their health care.
Congressional Republicans have failed to repeal the law, despite numerous attempts. Obama said doing so would just make things worse.
“Right off the bat, repeal would take away health care from 20 million people,” he said, and cancel other protections that benefit millions.
Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said this week that she expects 13.8 million people will sign up for 2017 coverage, a modest increase over the 12.7 million consumers who picked health insurance plans during open enrollment for this year.