Obama says without action, health costs will rise
HOLMDEL, N.J. — President Barack Obama returned to campaign-style rhetoric on Thursday, telling a political rally that inaction is not an option and urging allies to push for his overhaul of the nation’s health care system.
During a political fundraiser and separate campaign rally for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, the president said the costs of health care will continue to increase unless Congress delivers legislation that would dramatically change the way Americans receive health care. He said he will not accept the current system and his critics misunderstand the challenges that face the country.
“The fact is, health care affects the financial security and well-being of every American, even those who have health insurance,” Obama said. “It affects the stability of our entire economy.”
Obama told the gathering, which drew more than 12,000 people on a sweaty afternoon — the president’s first political rally since taking office — that he is confident Congress will take action on health care before lawmakers leave on an August recess. The lawmakers’ action, however, is only the first step toward the president’s goal.
“We have finally reached a point when inaction is no longer an option,” Obama said, his hoarse voice rising in volume and anger. “I will not defend the status quo.”
Obama brushed off his opponents as naysayers who expect a different outcome with the same-old approaches to a decades-old challenge.
“It’s a path where our health care costs keep rising. … That’s not a future I accept,” Obama told the friendly audience.
Obama said recession is linked with the burden of the health care system on the economy.
“We inherited an economy where Washington didn’t pay for anything,” Obama said, returning to campaign-style rhetoric.
“That was the America of yesterday. We’re now looking at the America of tomorrow.”
He said the nation’s fiscal future depends on changing the health care system: “Health care reform is deficit reform.”
(This version CORRECTS number of people who attended the rally to 12,000 sted 17,000 in 4th graf.)
Related News
Health care issues: Medicare cutsOctober 6th, 2009 Health care issues: Medicare cutsA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Will seniors' Medicare benefits be slashed to pay for health care overhaul?
THE POLITICS: Democrats are proposing to reduce the ballooning costs of Medicare to keep the program solvent. They want to root out waste to find the savings, and to reduce payments to some providers.
Health care issues: Overutilization of careSeptember 25th, 2009 Health care issues: Overutilization of careA look at key issues in the nation's health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Health care costs in the United States are far higher than in other countries without better outcomes, and most experts agree that's partly because of the excessive and often unnecessary use of expensive tests, surgeries and procedures. Will health overhaul legislation address this?
THE POLITICS: Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist, White House adviser and brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, has written that there's a "perfect storm of overutilization" of health care in the United States that's the greatest contributor to high medical costs.
A list of states where lawmakers are trying to push back against a health care overhaulSeptember 12th, 2009 States pushing back against health care overhaulLawmakers in eight states have considered proposals this year in opposition to federal health reform overhaul. Here's the status of those efforts:
— In Arizona, lawmakers voted to put the measure on the 2010 ballot.
EU warns action will be taken against protectionism in GM's sale of car unit OpelSeptember 12th, 2009 EU warns against protectionism in GM sale of OpelBRUSSELS — The European Union's competition commissioner has warned she will take action if there is any protectionism in the sale of General Motors Co.'s European unit Opel. The Belgian government says it wants the EU Commission to investigate the Opel deal amid concern that Germany allegedly sought to protect its own plants at the cost of others.
Obama says 'defensive medicine' could be bringing higher medical costsSeptember 9th, 2009 Obama to look at medical malpractice changesWASHINGTON — In his appeal to Congress for health care reform, President Barack Obama isn't ignoring calls for changes in medical malpractice laws. Obama told lawmakers and a national TV audience Wednesday night that he wants to look at a "range of ideas" to "put patient safety first and let doctors focus on practicing medicine."
Obama says some in Congress believe medical malpractice reform can help bring down health care costs.
AARP says Obama erred in claiming it has endorsed health care legislationAugust 12th, 2009 AARP tells Obama: No health plan endorsement yetWASHINGTON — A group usually seen as one of Barack Obama's allies in the health care debate — AARP — says the president went too far Tuesday when he said the seniors lobby had endorsed the legislation pending in Congress. AARP is sensitive to the issue because polls show that Medicare beneficiaries are worried their health care program will be cut to subsidize coverage for the uninsured.
Obama at AARP health care forum: 'We've got to get a better bang for our health care dollar'July 28th, 2009 Obama: Existing health system threatens MedicareWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is telling participants in an online forum on health care that the current system and its skyrocketing costs are a threat to Medicare. Obama says the Medicare trust fund will be in the red and out of money in a decade unless Washington overhauls the system.
White House asks Congress for more power to set Medicare ratesJuly 17th, 2009 White House wants more power to set Medicare ratesWASHINGTON — The White House is asking Congress to give the executive branch more power to limit Medicare's rising costs. A White House letter to top lawmakers on Friday said the move would be "a critical step forward" in controlling health care costs and providing better care.
Obama warns that health costs will keep rising without action as he touts proposal in NJJuly 16th, 2009 Obama says health costs will rise without actionHOLMDEL, N.J. — President Barack Obama says he wants a health care overhaul this year and that costs will continue to rise without action.
Dodd says taxing benefits to pay for health care overhaul is a bad idea and unnecessaryJune 14th, 2009 Senator says tax on health benefits is unnecessaryWASHINGTON — A leading Democratic senator says the idea of taxing health benefits is a bad one and unnecessary. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut says that people are struggling economically at the moment and don't need a new tax on the health care benefits they receive.
Health Secretary Sebelius pitches public health insurance plan, saying it will lower costsJune 14th, 2009 Sebelius says Obama plan would lower health costsWASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the government health insurance plan proposed by the Obama administration would increase competition and drive down costs. Sebelius says President Barack Obama does not want to dismantle privately owned plans and does not want the 180 million people who have employer coverage to lose their insurance.
HHS' Sebelius says proposed public health insurance no substitute for private plansJune 12th, 2009 HHS' Sebelius touts Obama health insurance planOMAHA, Neb. — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Friday that Americans need a new government-sponsored insurance plan to guarantee choice and competition — especially in rural America.
Obama says chance for overhaul of health care expires in AugustJune 2nd, 2009 Obama: Health overhaul necessaryWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says changes to the nation's health systems are necessary and the window for overhaul will close when Congress breaks for summer vacation. Obama met with lawmakers Tuesday at the White House.
Fed leaves rate at record low; sees signs recession easing but warns economy will remain weakApril 29th, 2009 Fed sees signs recession may easingWASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve says it sees signs the recession may be easing but warns the economy is likely to remain weak. Against that backdrop the Fed held its key lending rate at a record low of between zero and 0.25 percent.
Fed leaves rate at record low; sees signs recession easing but warns economy will remain weakApril 29th, 2009 Fed says it sees signs recession may be easingWASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve says it sees signs the recession may be easing but warns the economy is likely to remain weak. Against that backdrop the Fed held its key lending rate at a record low of between zero and 0.25 percent.
Loading ...