06/15/09: Obama – “If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period.” 06/15/10: Obama health law will force Americans to change health care plans
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo) spoke at a Senate press conference about the Obama Administration’s new health care regulations. He pointed out that the new regulations will force Americans to change their current health care plans despite President Obama’s promise that Americans can keep their coverage.
Excerpts of his remarks:
“I want to talk to you today about the promises that the President has made about the health care bill. And as we now know, are broken promises.
“What a difference a year makes. One year ago today the President went to the American Medical Association meeting in Chicago. He spoke to the doctors there, but was speaking to doctors as well as their patients about what he wanted to do with health care.
“The President said ‘If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period.’ He then said, ‘if you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period.’ He said, ‘No one will take it away, no matter what.’
“Well here we are–it’s a year later.
“Last September the President said, ‘Nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have.’
“And then at the town hall with the seniors just last week, he said ‘If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.’
“Well on Friday, the Associated Press reported that in just three years, a majority of workers in this country, 51 % will be in plans subject to new Washington requirements. 51% of Americans will not be able to keep what they have, keep what they like, keep what they want.
“Well you say, that’s the Associated Press, what do the real words say? So I brought to you what was released on Monday.
“The new regulations included all the interim final rules for group health plans and health insurance coverage under the bill. This came out through the Internal Revenue Service.
“It’s interesting it’s the Internal Revenue Service who’s writing these, along with the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services.
“If you turn to page 54, there is a table talking about how many people will lose the coverage that they have now that they like and that they want. And for all employer plans through 2013, 51%, a majority of Americans who are receiving their health care through their employer, will not be able to keep the plan they want, to keep the plan they like.
“A complete violation of the promise the President made to the American people.”