Advertisement

Obama adds fire to healthcare debate

By Peter Nicholas, LA Times Published at March 9, 2010 Views 360 Comments 1

John Crowley

In an impassioned rally that evoked his campaign, President Obama left what he called the Washington "echo chamber" Monday and urged voters to knock on doors and make phone calls to embolden members of Congress to pass heathcare legislation.

Obama said that Washington pundits obsessed with analyzing the political repercussions of a yes or no vote on healthcare are distracting lawmakers from what's fundamentally at stake: If Congress fails to act, the president said, premiums will rise, insurers will deny coverage based on preexisting conditions and more people will be without insurance.

Read the full article at latimes.com Bullet-go~193754b0357b9819177de2890c558fa6

I like this I don't like this
  • Report Report as inappropriate
  • Share
    Email Email
    Print Print Twitter Twitter
    Facebook Facebook

Comments (1 comment)

Add your comment Reply Down
Cactus Pete
Cactus Pete March 9, 2010 at 12:37 pm   
I like this I don't like this Report as inappropriate

Here's my two cents. The article says:

"Obama also tapped into anger in California over a rate hike that was announced by the state's largest for-profit health insurer, Anthem Blue Cross.

"Just last month, Anthem Blue Cross in California tried to jack up rates by nearly 40% — 40%. Anybody's paycheck gone up 40%?" he asked."

I understand the point Mr. President is trying to make. But the issue—as I see it—isn't that this company jacked up the rates. It's that it's so damn hard to switch insurance companies. Why don't car insurance companies jack up rates like that? Because there's lots of competition and they would lose their customers.

My plea to the powers that be is deal with the real issues. Pass laws that provide more options, more competition, and lower the cost to switch from one health insurance co. to another.