Health care reform - hear what President Obama is saying now

The status quo is good for insurance companies and bad for Americans.
- President Barack Obama

Over the past year, I’ve been watching the health care debate very closely.  I’ve even been a part of phone banks to encourage citizens to call their representatives and let their voices be heard and, for those that know me well, I’ve had more than one heated debate with others on this issue.

Today, I received an email by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reminding me that despite the ‘fears’ we have about reform, we have to do something.  No, she is not implying ‘just anything’, but things based on the already exhaustive studies looking at problems and potential solutions.

In addition, President Obama made health care reform the topic of his weekly address.  Below is a link to the video of his address.  I hope you’ll watch and listen.  He reminds us that the recent obscene rate hikes placed on the backs of subscribers by insurance companies, despite record profits for those same companies, will continue to be the ‘norm’ unless we pass reform.

The bottom line is this: there is no free lunch.  Yes, many of us with the more, shall I say, ‘cushy’ plans may need to give in a bit.   I say, ‘give in a bit’ not lose.  You will still have good coverage that is there when you need it.

And, if the minority party wants more say in the solutions they need to step up and fight for it, with ideas that have substance.  It’s not enough to complain about the solutions offered up so far, without offering up viable alternatives that can work better in the real world.

President Obama also announced again that he is reaching out to republicans to work with him.  He’ll be holding a bipartisan meeting this coming week to continue to make reform happen.

Click here to watch Obama now.