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Post-Health Care Speech Thread

By Jeralyn

What did you think of President Obama's speech (text here)?

First, let me say, he was charismatic, forceful and presidential. The speech had some great lines and he delivered them perfectly.

Now, on to substance. Here's my shorter version:

• Mandates, everyone will have to buy insurance.

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

• No more promises your current health insurance plan will still be available or offered.

• A public option only for those currently without insurance, expected to apply to less than 5% of Americans: [More...]

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

Let me be clear – it would only be an option for those who don’t have insurance. No one would be forced to choose it, and it would not impact those of you who already have insurance. In fact, based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, we believe that less than 5% of Americans would sign up.

The Associated Press fact-checks the President's speech:

President Obama before: "If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period." Now he says nothing in the plan "requires" any change.

What's the difference?

[N]othing in his plan guarantees that policies people have now will continue to be available in the same form. In earlier accounts, he spoke with unmerited certainty in saying people who are happy with their current insurance can simply keep it.

There you have it. Did he convince you? Is he being too conciliatory to Republicans? Do you buy his numbers?

Update: Final questions: Do you think the plan President Obama outlined tonight is in your best interest? If not, will you still support it because you think it's in the best interests of other Americans? Or do you think we need to go back to the drawing board and start over?

Full post as published by TalkLeft on September 09, 2009 (boomark / email).