Obama's Health Care Address to Congress

So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future - and that is the issue of health care.

Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you'll lose your health insurance too.

Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy.

Under this plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

One of the unique and wonderful things about America has always been our self-reliance, our rugged individualism, our fierce defense of freedom and our healthy skepticism of government.

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon canc

But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange.

We will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they get sick.

It's a good idea, and I am directing my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative today.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

And if we are able to slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of one percent each year, it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term.

I don't believe malpractice reform is a silver bullet, but I have talked to enough doctors to know that defensive medicine may be contributing to unnecessary costs.

So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future – and that is the issue of health care.

They joined together so that all of us could enter our golden years with some basic peace of mind.

One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little; that without the leavening hand of wise policy, markets can crash, monopolies can stifle competition, and the vulnerable can be exploited.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

So don't pay attention to those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut – especially since some of the same folks who are spreading these tall tales have fought against Medicare in the past, and just this year supported a budget

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon canc

We have long known that some places, like the Intermountain Healthcare in Utah or the Geisinger Health System in rural Pennsylvania, offer high-quality care at costs below average.

More than four decades ago, this nation stood up for the principle that after a lifetime of hard work, our seniors should not be left to struggle with a pile of medical bills in their later years.

Another woman from Texas was about to get a double mastectomy when her insurance company canceled her policy because she forgot to declare a case of acne.

Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future – and that is the issue of health care.

And he expressed confidence that this would be the year that health care reform – "that great unfinished business of our society," he called it – would finally pass.

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer</

This is one of the reasons that insurance premiums have gone up three times faster than wages.

One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

Another woman from Texas was about to get a double mastectomy when her insurance company canceled her policy because she forgot to declare a case of acne.

By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer more than doubled in size.

Others propose a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan.

My health care proposal has also been attacked by some who oppose reform as a "government takeover" of the entire health care system.

Still, given all the misinformation that's been spread over the past few months, I realize that many Americans have grown nervous about reform.

And according to these same experts, this modest change could help hold down the cost of health care for all of us in the long-run.

That is heart-breaking, it is wrong, and no one should be treated that way in the United States of America.

It's a good idea, and I am directing my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative today.

We spend one-and-a-half times more per person on health care than any other country, but we aren't any healthier for it.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

And we can use some of the savings to fill the gap in coverage that forces too many seniors to pay thousands of dollars a year out of their own pocket for prescription drugs.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly – by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest; by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage; and by jacking up rates.

While there remain some significant details to be ironed out, I believe a broad consensus exists for the aspects of the plan I just outlined: consumer protections for those with insurance, an exchange that allows individuals and small businesses t

The best example is the claim, made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens.

Our collective failure to meet this challenge – year after year, decade after decade – has led us to a breaking point.

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon canc

And to prove that I'm serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don't materialize.

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past.

But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can't find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice.

But I will not back down on the basic principle that if Americans can't find affordable coverage, we will provide you with a choice.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Since health care represents one-sixth of our economy, I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesn't, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch.

There will be a hardship waiver for those individuals who still cannot afford coverage, and 95% of all small businesses, because of their size and narrow profit margin, would be exempt from these requirements.

If there are affordable options and people still don't sign up for health insurance, it means we pay for those people's expensive emergency room visits.

A belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgement that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise.

And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them; until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes.

Since health care represents one-sixth of our economy, I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesn't, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch.

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform.

And they knew that when any government measure, no matter how carefully crafted or beneficial, is subject to scorn; when any efforts to help people in need are attacked as un-American; when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity pa

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

There are those on the left who believe that the only way to fix the system is through a single-payer system like Canada's, where we would severely restrict the private insurance market and have the government provide coverage for everyone.

That is why not a dollar of the Medicare trust fund will be used to pay for this plan.

And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them; until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes.

Likewise, businesses will be required to either offer their workers health care, or chip in to help cover the cost of their workers.

And I have no doubt that these reforms would greatly benefit Americans from all walks of life, as well as the economy as a whole.

Part of the reason I faced a trillion dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for – from the Iraq War to tax breaks for the wealthy.

But the men and women of Congress stood fast, and we are all the better for it.

While there remain some significant details to be ironed out, I believe a broad consensus exists for the aspects of the plan I just outlined: consumer protections for those with insurance, an exchange that allows individuals and small businesses t

And they knew that when any government measure, no matter how carefully crafted or beneficial, is subject to scorn; when any efforts to help people in need are attacked as un-American; when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity pa

The best example is the claim, made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens.

And I will continue to seek common ground in the weeks ahead.

Under this plan, it will be against the law for insurance companies to deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

In the meantime, for those Americans who can't get insurance today because they have pre-existing medical conditions, we will immediately offer low-cost coverage that will protect you against financial ruin if you become seriously ill.

By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer more than doubled in size.

It's why so many aspiring entrepreneurs cannot afford to open a business in the first place, and why American businesses that compete internationally – like our automakers – are at a huge disadvantage.

For those individuals and small businesses who still cannot afford the lower-priced insurance available in the exchange, we will provide tax credits, the size of which will be based on your need.

It was from our beloved friend and colleague, Ted Kennedy.

The best example is the claim, made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens.

I still believe we can do great things, and that here and now we will meet history's test.

More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you'll lose your health insurance too.

Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise.

These are middle-class Americans.

And to prove that I'm serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don't materialize.

More and more Americans pay their premiums, only to discover that their insurance company has dropped their coverage when they get sick, or won't pay the full cost of care.

Of the five committees asked to develop bills, four have completed their work, and the Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will move forward next week.

Finally, our health care system is placing an unsustainable burden on taxpayers.

And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them; until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes.

A recognition that we are all in this together; that when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand.

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform.

Some of people's concerns have grown out of bogus claims spread by those whose only agenda is to kill reform at any cost.

And if we are able to slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of one percent each year, it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term.

It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform.

And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them; until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes.

In 1933, when over half of our seniors could not support themselves and millions had seen their savings wiped away, there were those who argued that Social Security would lead to socialism.

Reducing the waste and inefficiency in Medicare and Medicaid will pay for most of this plan.

"What we face," he wrote, "is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country."

Well the time for bickering is over.

The commission can help encourage the adoption of these common-sense best practices by doctors and medical professionals throughout the system – everything from reducing hospital infection rates to encouraging better coordination between te

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer befo

Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are.

Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge.

If some businesses don't provide workers health care, it forces the rest of us to pick up the tab when their workers get sick, and gives those businesses an unfair advantage over their competitors.

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform.

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past.

And figuring out the appropriate size and role of government has always been a source of rigorous and sometimes angry debate.

That makes sense, it saves money, and it saves lives.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

But we did not come here just to clean up crises.

They joined together so that all of us could enter our golden years with some basic peace of mind.

And according to these same experts, this modest change could help hold down the cost of health care for all of us in the long-run.

Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.

There may still be companies that refuse to do right by their workers.

This exchange will take effect in four years, which will give us time to do it right.

It's why so many aspiring entrepreneurs cannot afford to open a business in the first place, and why American businesses that compete internationally – like our automakers – are at a huge disadvantage.

Those who do have insurance have never had less security and stability than they do today.

Some can't get insurance on the job.

Finally, many in this chamber – particularly on the Republican side of the aisle – have long insisted that reforming our medical malpractice laws can help bring down the cost of health care.

They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime.

First, I will not sign a plan that adds one dime to our deficits – either now or in the future.

And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way.

A full and vibrant recovery is many months away.

And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly – by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest; by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage; and by jacking up rates.

And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them; until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

And it's a plan that incorporates ideas from Senators and Congressmen; from Democrats and Republicans – and yes, from some of my opponents in both the primary and general election.

He never forgot the sheer terror and helplessness that any parent feels when a child is badly sick; and he was able to imagine what it must be like for those without insurance; what it would be like to have to say to a wife or a child or an aging p

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

We spend one-and-a-half times more per person on health care than any other country, but we aren't any healthier for it.

That is heart-breaking, it is wrong, and no one should be treated that way in the United States of America.

And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way.

Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

Some can't get insurance on the job.

Add it all up, and the plan I'm proposing will cost around $900 billion over ten years – less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans that Congress passed at the begin

We are the only advanced democracy on Earth – the only wealthy nation – that allows such hardships for millions of its people.

For those individuals and small businesses who still cannot afford the lower-priced insurance available in the exchange, we will provide tax credits, the size of which will be based on your need.

Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy.

We were losing an average of 700,000 jobs per month.

Nothing else even comes close.

It was from our beloved friend and colleague, Ted Kennedy.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

There are now more than thirty million American citizens who cannot get coverage.

Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

But we did not come here just to clean up crises.

There are those on the left who believe that the only way to fix the system is through a single-payer system like Canada's, where we would severely restrict the private insurance market and have the government provide coverage for everyone.

Unfortunately, in 34 states, 75% of the insurance market is controlled by five or fewer companies.

In 1933, when over half of our seniors could not support themselves and millions had seen their savings wiped away, there were those who argued that Social Security would lead to socialism.

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Here are the details that every American needs to know about this plan:

First, if you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will re

There are now more than thirty million American citizens who cannot get coverage.

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform.

And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.

By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer more than doubled in size.

Likewise, businesses will be required to either offer their workers health care, or chip in to help cover the cost of their workers.

While there remain some significant details to be ironed out, I believe a broad consensus exists for the aspects of the plan I just outlined: consumer protections for those with insurance, an exchange that allows individuals and small businesses t

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

Still, given all the misinformation that's been spread over the past few months, I realize that many Americans have grown nervous about reform.

But thanks to the bold and decisive action we have taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

Part of the reason I faced a trillion dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for – from the Iraq War to tax breaks for the wealthy.

And out of this blizzard of charges and counter-charges, confusion has reigned.

"What we face," he wrote, "is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country."

If you strike out on your own and start a small business, you will be able to get coverage.

My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there is choice and competition.

On the right, there are those who argue that we should end the employer-based system and leave individuals to buy health insurance on their own.

More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you'll lose your health insurance too.

Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do.

It's why so many employers – especially small businesses – are forcing their employees to pay more for insurance, or are dropping their coverage entirely.

But those of us who knew Teddy and worked with him here – people of both parties – know that what drove him was something more.

And he expressed confidence that this would be the year that health care reform – "that great unfinished business of our society," he called it – would finally pass.

One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about.

But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits, excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers.

We have long known that some places, like the Intermountain Healthcare in Utah or the Geisinger Health System in rural Pennsylvania, offer high-quality care at costs below average.

But they also understood that the danger of too much government is matched by the perils of too little; that without the leavening hand of wise policy, markets can crash, monopolies can stifle competition, and the vulnerable can be exploited.

And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly – by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest; by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage; and by jacking up rates.

Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

We were losing an average of 700,000 jobs per month.

His friend Chuck Grassley knows that.

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform.

I also want to thank the American people for their patience and resolve during this trying time for our nation.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future – and that is the issue of health care.

Part of the reason I faced a trillion dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for – from the Iraq War to tax breaks for the wealthy.

We are the only advanced democracy on Earth – the only wealthy nation – that allows such hardships for millions of its people.

If we do nothing to slow these skyrocketing costs, we will eventually be spending more on Medicare and Medicaid than every other government program combined.

If we do nothing to slow these skyrocketing costs, we will eventually be spending more on Medicare and Medicaid than every other government program combined.

And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way.

More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you'll lose your health insurance too.

But thanks to the bold and decisive action we have taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink.

So I am proposing that we move forward on a range of ideas about how to put patient safety first and let doctors focus on practicing medicine.

It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform.

Since health care represents one-sixth of our economy, I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesn't, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch.

When health care costs grow at the rate they have, it puts greater pressure on programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

They provide a legitimate service, and employ a lot of our friends and neighbors.

Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

Improving our health care system only works if everybody does their part.

I want to thank the members of this body for your efforts and your support in these last several months, and especially those who have taken the difficult votes that have put us on a path to recovery.

You see, our predecessors understood that government could not, and should not, solve every problem.

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon canc

We will do this by creating a new insurance exchange – a marketplace where individuals and small businesses will be able to shop for health insurance at competitive prices.

It's why so many aspiring entrepreneurs cannot afford to open a business in the first place, and why American businesses that compete internationally – like our automakers – are at a huge disadvantage.

In other words, it can happen to anyone.

And if we are able to slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of one percent each year, it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term.

And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly – by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest; by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage; and by jacking up rates.

Add it all up, and the plan I'm proposing will cost around $900 billion over ten years – less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans that Congress passed at the begin

I understand that the politically safe move would be to kick the can further down the road – to defer reform one more year, or one more election, or one more term.

I have insisted that like any private insurance company, the public insurance option would have to be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects.

Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past.

It's why so many employers – especially small businesses – are forcing their employees to pay more for insurance, or are dropping their coverage entirely.

I also want to thank the American people for their patience and resolve during this trying time for our nation.

And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way.

In the meantime, for those Americans who can't get insurance today because they have pre-existing medical conditions, we will immediately offer low-cost coverage that will protect you against financial ruin if you become seriously ill.

It's a good idea, and I am directing my Secretary of Health and Human Services to move forward on this initiative today.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

In Alabama, almost 90% is controlled by just one company.

The only thing this plan would eliminate is the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and fraud, as well as unwarranted subsidies in Medicare that go to insurance companies – subsidies that do everything to pad their profits and nothing

It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform.

Our collective failure to meet this challenge – year after year, decade after decade – has led us to a breaking point.

We have seen many in this chamber work tirelessly for the better part of this year to offer thoughtful ideas about how to achieve reform.

I have to say that there are arguments to be made for both approaches.

And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly – by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest; by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage; and by jacking up rates.

And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.

We will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they get sick.

Add it all up, and the plan I'm proposing will cost around $900 billion over ten years – less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans that Congress passed at the begin

If we do nothing to slow these skyrocketing costs, we will eventually be spending more on Medicare and Medicaid than every other government program combined.

Here are the details that every American needs to know about this plan:

First, if you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will re

As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most.

We spend one-and-a-half times more per person on health care than any other country, but we aren't any healthier for it.

For some of Ted Kennedy's critics, his brand of liberalism represented an affront to American liberty.

By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer more than doubled in size.

That is heart-breaking, it is wrong, and no one should be treated that way in the United States of America.

The commission can help encourage the adoption of these common-sense best practices by doctors and medical professionals throughout the system – everything from reducing hospital infection rates to encouraging better coordination between te

This reform will charge insurance companies a fee for their most expensive policies, which will encourage them to provide greater value for the money – an idea which has the support of Democratic and Republican experts.

But thanks to the bold and decisive action we have taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink.

I want to thank the members of this body for your efforts and your support in these last several months, and especially those who have taken the difficult votes that have put us on a path to recovery.

And to prove that I'm serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don't materialize.

More and more Americans worry that if you move, lose your job, or change your job, you'll lose your health insurance too.

All of this is in service of meeting what this former executive called "Wall Street's relentless profit expectations."

This is one of the reasons that insurance premiums have gone up three times faster than wages.

And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.

Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

In other words, it can happen to anyone.

And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

A belief that in this country, hard work and responsibility should be rewarded by some measure of security and fair play; and an acknowledgement that sometimes government has to step in to help deliver on that promise.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

And that is precisely what those of you in Congress have tried to do over the past several months.

Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are.

They delayed his treatment, and he died because of it.

But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits, excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

These are middle-class Americans.

And I will not let up until those Americans who seek jobs can find them; until those businesses that seek capital and credit can thrive; until all responsible homeowners can stay in their homes.

And that is precisely what those of you in Congress have tried to do over the past several months.

The time for games has passed.

That is how Medicare was born.

And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government.

There are now more than thirty million American citizens who cannot get coverage.

But what we have also seen in these last months is the same partisan spectacle that only hardens the disdain many Americans have toward their own government.

The plan will not add to our deficit.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.

And there is agreement in this chamber on about eighty percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been.

And I will make sure that no government bureaucrat or insurance company bureaucrat gets between you and the care that you need.

And it makes it easier for insurance companies to treat their customers badly – by cherry-picking the healthiest individuals and trying to drop the sickest; by overcharging small businesses who have no leverage; and by jacking up rates.

And there is agreement in this chamber on about eighty percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been.

It's a plan that asks everyone to take responsibility for meeting this challenge – not just government and insurance companies, but employers and individuals.

In it, he spoke about what a happy time his last months were, thanks to the love and support of family and friends, his wife, Vicki, and his children, who are here tonight .

Right now, too much of the hard-earned savings and tax dollars we spend on health care doesn't make us healthier.

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past.

As soon as I sign this bill, it will be against the law for insurance companies to drop your coverage when you get sick or water it down when you need it most.

Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise.

But either one would represent a radical shift that would disrupt the health care most people currently have.

And we will also create an independent commission of doctors and medical experts charged with identifying more waste in the years ahead.

By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer more than doubled in size.

I want to thank the members of this body for your efforts and your support in these last several months, and especially those who have taken the difficult votes that have put us on a path to recovery.

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon canc

Unfortunately, in 34 states, 75% of the insurance market is controlled by five or fewer companies.

And it's a plan that incorporates ideas from Senators and Congressmen; from Democrats and Republicans – and yes, from some of my opponents in both the primary and general election.

In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up.

In the meantime, for those Americans who can't get insurance today because they have pre-existing medical conditions, we will immediately offer low-cost coverage that will protect you against financial ruin if you become seriously ill.

So don't pay attention to those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut – especially since some of the same folks who are spreading these tall tales have fought against Medicare in the past, and just this year supported a budget

Still, given all the misinformation that's been spread over the past few months, I realize that many Americans have grown nervous about reform.

It's why so many aspiring entrepreneurs cannot afford to open a business in the first place, and why American businesses that compete internationally – like our automakers – are at a huge disadvantage.

But thanks to the bold and decisive action we have taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink.

That's why under my plan, individuals will be required to carry basic health insurance – just as most states require you to carry auto insurance.

As one big group, these customers will have greater leverage to bargain with the insurance companies for better prices and quality coverage.

As proof, critics point to a provision in our plan that allows the uninsured and small businesses to choose a publicly-sponsored insurance option, administered by the government just like Medicaid or Medicare.

And it remains a sacred trust that must be passed down from one generation to the next.

Part of the reason I faced a trillion dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for – from the Iraq War to tax breaks for the wealthy.

And if we are able to slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of one percent each year, it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term.

It's why so many employers – especially small businesses – are forcing their employees to pay more for insurance, or are dropping their coverage entirely.

Credit was frozen.

The only thing this plan would eliminate is the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and fraud, as well as unwarranted subsidies in Medicare that go to insurance companies – subsidies that do everything to pad their profits and nothing

Everyone understands the extraordinary hardships that are placed on the uninsured, who live every day just one accident or illness away from bankruptcy.

We are the only advanced democracy on Earth – the only wealthy nation – that allows such hardships for millions of its people.

The only thing this plan would eliminate is the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and fraud, as well as unwarranted subsidies in Medicare that go to insurance companies – subsidies that do everything to pad their profits and nothing

Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge.

Our collective failure to meet this challenge – year after year, decade after decade – has led us to a breaking point.

There are those on the left who believe that the only way to fix the system is through a single-payer system like Canada's, where we would severely restrict the private insurance market and have the government provide coverage for everyone.

My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there is choice and competition.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

We will place a limit on how much you can be charged for out-of-pocket expenses, because in the United States of America, no one should go broke because they get sick.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

Right now, too much of the hard-earned savings and tax dollars we spend on health care doesn't make us healthier.

That makes sense, it saves money, and it saves lives.

One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about.

This is one of the reasons that insurance premiums have gone up three times faster than wages.

Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

And there is agreement in this chamber on about eighty percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been.

Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

A recognition that we are all in this together; that when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand.

Those who do have insurance have never had less security and stability than they do today.

Right now, too much of the hard-earned savings and tax dollars we spend on health care doesn't make us healthier.

One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about.

Some of people's concerns have grown out of bogus claims spread by those whose only agenda is to kill reform at any cost.

Our collective failure to meet this challenge – year after year, decade after decade – has led us to a breaking point.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform.

He never forgot the sheer terror and helplessness that any parent feels when a child is badly sick; and he was able to imagine what it must be like for those without insurance; what it would be like to have to say to a wife or a child or an aging p

Thank you, God Bless You, and may God Bless the United States of America.

As one former insurance executive testified before Congress, insurance companies are not only encouraged to find reasons to drop the seriously ill; they are rewarded for it.

During that time, we have seen Washington at its best and its worst.

We have long known that some places, like the Intermountain Healthcare in Utah or the Geisinger Health System in rural Pennsylvania, offer high-quality care at costs below average.

Since health care represents one-sixth of our economy, I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesn't, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch.

I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last.

I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are.

In 1933, when over half of our seniors could not support themselves and millions had seen their savings wiped away, there were those who argued that Social Security would lead to socialism.

Now, if you're one of the tens of millions of Americans who don't currently have health insurance, the second part of this plan will finally offer you quality, affordable choices.

More than four decades ago, this nation stood up for the principle that after a lifetime of hard work, our seniors should not be left to struggle with a pile of medical bills in their later years.

I've thought about that phrase quite a bit in recent days – the character of our country.

Despite all this, the insurance companies and their allies don't like this idea.

We came to build a future.

But we did not come here just to clean up crises.

It's why so many employers – especially small businesses – are forcing their employees to pay more for insurance, or are dropping their coverage entirely.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

I also want to thank the American people for their patience and resolve during this trying time for our nation.

If some businesses don't provide workers health care, it forces the rest of us to pick up the tab when their workers get sick, and gives those businesses an unfair advantage over their competitors.

They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime.

This is one of the reasons that insurance premiums have gone up three times faster than wages.

Since health care represents one-sixth of our economy, I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesn't, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch.

But either one would represent a radical shift that would disrupt the health care most people currently have.

There are those on the left who believe that the only way to fix the system is through a single-payer system like Canada's, where we would severely restrict the private insurance market and have the government provide coverage for everyone.

But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange.

So tonight, I return to speak to all of you about an issue that is central to that future – and that is the issue of health care.

And to prove that I'm serious, there will be a provision in this plan that requires us to come forward with more spending cuts if the savings we promised don't materialize.

But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange.

I've thought about that phrase quite a bit in recent days – the character of our country.

If we do nothing to slow these skyrocketing costs, we will eventually be spending more on Medicare and Medicaid than every other government program combined.

And they knew that when any government measure, no matter how carefully crafted or beneficial, is subject to scorn; when any efforts to help people in need are attacked as un-American; when facts and reason are thrown overboard and only timidity pa

And insurance companies will be required to cover, with no extra charge, routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms and colonoscopies – because there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon canc

Now, because Medicare is such a big part of the health care system, making the program more efficient can help usher in changes in the way we deliver health care that can reduce costs for everybody.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

I also want to thank the American people for their patience and resolve during this trying time for our nation.

Many other Americans who are willing and able to pay are still denied insurance due to previous illnesses or conditions that insurance companies decide are too risky or expensive to cover.

And there is agreement in this chamber on about eighty percent of what needs to be done, putting us closer to the goal of reform than we have ever been.

Since health care represents one-sixth of our economy, I believe it makes more sense to build on what works and fix what doesn't, rather than try to build an entirely new system from scratch.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

In the meantime, for those Americans who can't get insurance today because they have pre-existing medical conditions, we will immediately offer low-cost coverage that will protect you against financial ruin if you become seriously ill.

We came to build a future.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up – under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

As any American who is still looking for work or a way to pay their bills will tell you, we are by no means out of the woods.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

I have to say that there are arguments to be made for both approaches.

"What we face," he wrote, "is above all a moral issue; at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country."

Because there are too many Americans counting on us to succeed – the ones who suffer silently, and the ones who shared their stories with us at town hall meetings, in emails, and in letters.

Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

A bill for comprehensive health reform was first introduced by John Dingell Sr. in 1943.

It has now been nearly a century since Theodore Roosevelt first called for health care reform.

The problem is, such irresponsible behavior costs all the rest of us money.

In the meantime, for those Americans who can't get insurance today because they have pre-existing medical conditions, we will immediately offer low-cost coverage that will protect you against financial ruin if you become seriously ill.

As proof, critics point to a provision in our plan that allows the uninsured and small businesses to choose a publicly-sponsored insurance option, administered by the government just like Medicaid or Medicare.

We are the only advanced democracy on Earth – the only wealthy nation – that allows such hardships for millions of its people.

Of the five committees asked to develop bills, four have completed their work, and the Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will move forward next week.

That is how Medicare was born.

I know that many in this country are deeply skeptical that government is looking out for them.

Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge.

I understand that the politically safe move would be to kick the can further down the road – to defer reform one more year, or one more election, or one more term.

I have to say that there are arguments to be made for both approaches.

But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits, excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers.

Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, and the American people:

When I spoke here last winter, this nation was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

The time for games has passed.

But by avoiding some of the overhead that gets eaten up at private companies by profits, excessive administrative costs and executive salaries, it could provide a good deal for consumers.

And according to these same experts, this modest change could help hold down the cost of health care for all of us in the long-run.

Our ability to stand in other people's shoes.

And ever since, nearly every President and Congress, whether Democrat or Republican, has attempted to meet this challenge in some way.

So don't pay attention to those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut – especially since some of the same folks who are spreading these tall tales have fought against Medicare in the past, and just this year supported a budget

Too many have used this as an opportunity to score short-term political points, even if it robs the country of our opportunity to solve a long-term challenge.

To my progressive friends, I would remind you that for decades, the driving idea behind reform has been to end insurance company abuses and make coverage affordable for those without it.

But thanks to the bold and decisive action we have taken since January, I can stand here with confidence and say that we have pulled this economy back from the brink.

This exchange will take effect in four years, which will give us time to do it right.

A full and vibrant recovery is many months away.

Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past.

They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime.

He had written it back in May, shortly after he was told that his illness was terminal.

Another woman from Texas was about to get a double mastectomy when her insurance company canceled her policy because she forgot to declare a case of acne.

Sixty-five years later, his son continues to introduce that same bill at the beginning of each session.

A recognition that we are all in this together; that when fortune turns against one of us, others are there to lend a helping hand.

But an additional step we can take to keep insurance companies honest is by making a not-for-profit public option available in the insurance exchange.

During that time, we have seen Washington at its best and its worst.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime.

Some have dug into unyielding ideological camps that offer no hope of compromise.

Here are the details that every American needs to know about this plan:

First, if you are among the hundreds of millions of Americans who already have health insurance through your job, Medicare, Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will re

This is how large companies and government employees get affordable insurance.

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past.

Thank you, God Bless You, and may God Bless the United States of America.

There are those on the left who believe that the only way to fix the system is through a single-payer system like Canada's, where we would severely restrict the private insurance market and have the government provide coverage for everyone.

The best example is the claim, made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

Of the five committees asked to develop bills, four have completed their work, and the Senate Finance Committee announced today that it will move forward next week.

For example, some have suggested that that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies.

Others are self-employed, and can't afford it, since buying insurance on your own costs you three times as much as the coverage you get from your employer.

They will no longer be able to place some arbitrary cap on the amount of coverage you can receive in a given year or a lifetime.

The best example is the claim, made not just by radio and cable talk show hosts, but prominent politicians, that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens.

Our overall efforts have been supported by an unprecedented coalition of doctors and nurses; hospitals, seniors' groups and even drug companies – many of whom opposed reform in the past.

And it's why those of us with health insurance are also paying a hidden and growing tax for those without it – about $1000 per year that pays for somebody else's emergency room and charitable care.

Part of the reason I faced a trillion dollar deficit when I walked in the door of the White House is because too many initiatives over the last decade were not paid for – from the Iraq War to tax breaks for the wealthy.