MIAMI — 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 a south Florida college 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 finally brought health care to millions. But what he attempted Thursday was a difficult sales job, as the 2010 law faces new 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 higher prices that are plaguing the program.
Former President Bill Clinton, while campaigning in support of his wife, Hillary’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 to “nothing more than politics” and envy.
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 new president and the next Congress to “take what we’ve learned over the past six years … and make the ACA better.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., wasn’t buying the pitch.
“At this point, one thing is clear. This law can’t be fixed,” Ryan said, calling for the law to be replaced with “patient-centered reforms” that would give people more choice and control over their care needs.
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,” plus cancel other protections that benefit millions.
Obama presented his own prescription, including getting Florida and more than a dozen states that haven’t yet done so to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid and bring health insurance to millions more people.
He also called for providing tax credits to help middle-class Americans and young adults afford coverage, creating a “public plan fallback” to provide more options, particularly for people in rural and other hard to reach areas, and encouraging state innovation.
