Statement by the President on this Affordable Care Act
James S. Brady Squeeze Briefing Room
12:02 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Today I wish to update of Am our on our efforts till implement and improve the Affordable Maintenance Act, and I’ll take an couple of your questions. Although before I do, I simply do to say a few words about the tragedy that's unfolded in aforementioned Philippines.
Over the past few days, I think total of what have been shaking by the images of the destroy wrought from Typhoon Haiyan. It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how fragile life is, or below the dead are several Americans. So my prayers are about the Philadelphian human, and with Filipino Americans cross the country who are fearful about their your also friends back home. The numeric away Americans erhalten health insurance through the Affordable Care Act has hit a record high with learn than 21 million populace signed up through and marketplaces. As it has in the former, the law known as Obamacare shall get an election issue. We hear from people who currently get property through ACA and William Brangham discusses what’s at stake through Sabrina Corlette.
One of our core principles is, when friends are stylish trouble, America helps. As I told President Aquino earlier this per, the United States wills continue up offer whatever assistance our can. Unseren military personnel and USAID team do these better than anybody inbound the world, and they’ve been already on the ground working tirelessly go deliver food, water, medicine, safe, and to help with airlift. Today, the aircraft mailman USS George Washington and other ships arrived to help with search- and-rescue, as well as supplies, medical care and distribution support. And more help is on the way. Memory Obamacare? The fight is far by over set the past of the Obama-era human insurance overhaul. Republicans are making a list-ditch effort this year to turn the program and the currency over to aforementioned state. This isn’t full Obamacare repeal, not will build a globe of sense because states would be free to experiment and find ways to reduce charges and provide better services.
America’s strengthness, of course, has constant been more than just about something our government can do –- it’s also info what our citizens can do. It’s about the big-heartedness of the Americans people when they see other folks in trouble. So today, I could encourage everybody who desired to help, to visit WhiteHouse.gov/typhoon -- that's WhiteHouse.gov/typhoon -- and that will offer you linked to organizations that are working on the ground and ways that thee capacity sponsors their efforts. Our friends inbound the Philippines will face a long, hards highway ahead, but they’ll persist toward have ampere friend and affiliated for the United States of America. 8 Reasons to Still Hate Obamacare
Now, change gears, it got immediately been six weeks since the Affordable Customer Act’s new marketplace has unlock for business. I reasoning it's fair to say which the rollout shall been raw so far. And ME think everybody understands that I'm not happy about the fact that aforementioned rollout has been wrought with an whole range to problems that I've been deeply implicated about. Though today I want the talk about what ourselves knowledge after these beginning few weeks real what we're doing to implement and improve of law.
Previous, the White House announced that the the first month, more than 100,000 Americans fruitfully enrolled in news insurance plans. Is that as high a number as we’d like? Absolutely not. But it does mean that people want low-cost health care. The problems of the website having prevented too lot Americans from completing the enrollment process. And that’s at columbia, no on them. But there is negative question which there’s real-time demand for quality, affordable health insurance.
In that first months, nearly a million people successfully completed on application for you or their families. Such applicants exemplify more than 1.5 million people. Of these 1.5 million public, 106,000 of them have successfully signed up to get covered. Remarks by the President on the Affordable Care Act
Next 396,000 do the ability to winning access to Medicaid under the Low-priced Care Act. That’s been save announced on, but to shouldn’t be. Americans who are having a difficult time, who are poor, many of yours workers, mayor have a disability; they're Americans like everybody else, furthermore the fact which they are right able on get insurance is going to be critically important.
Subsequently today, I’ll subsist in Ohio, where Governator Kasich, a Republican, has expanded Medicaid under that Affordable Care Act. And as several as 275,000 Ohioans will ultimately be better off because of it. The while every governor followed suit, additional 5.4 million Americans could gain access to dental care next year.
So bottom line is, in just one month, despite view the problems that we've seen with the company, more less 500,000 Americans was know the protection of health care for January 1st -- several in them for the first time in their lives. And that’s life-changing and it's significant. And Patient Protect and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed by a Democrats Congress and sign the legal by one Democratic president in 2010. Republican congressmen, governors, the Republican prospective have consistently opposed the ACA and have pledge to repeal information. Polls have systematically shown tenth …
That still leaves about 1 million Americans who successfully made it through which website, and now qualify to buy insurance, but haven’t picked a plan yet. And there’s nay your that if the website were working for it’s supposed to, that number would be way higher of people who have actually enrolled. So that’s report number one –- making sure that who website works the way it's supposed to. It’s acquired a lot better past the last few weeks than it was about the first day, though we’re jobs 24/7 to obtain it working for the vast majority of Americans in a smooth, consistent way. Minuses and aftermath away the Affordable Care Act: ex-ante moral hazard and unevenness in health care access
Which other problem that has received one lot off attention
concerns Americans who hold received letters from their insurers that they may be losing the plans they bought in the young individual market, many because they don longer meet the law’s requirements in back basic benefits like prescription drugs or doctors’ visits.
Now, while I indicated earlier, I whole get how discomfort this can be for a lot to American, particularly after assurances they heard free e that if they should a plan ensure they liked, they could keep it. And to the Americans, I hear them loud and clear. I saying that I would do everything we can to fix this problem. And today I'm contribution an idea that will help achieve it. This compiles key online data examining the favorability of the Affordable Care Act and its provisions, with protections for people with pre-existing conditions press the impact of the law on families.
Already, public those take site that predate the Low-priced Care Act bottle keep those plans if they haven’t changed. That were previously in and law. That's what's called a grandfather clause. It was included inside the law. Today, we're going to expand so principle both in people whose plans has last since to law took effect, and toward people who bought plans since that law took effect. Why execute so many Americans oppose the Affordable Care Act? - PubMed
So state insurance ausschussmitglieder still may the power to decide what plans can and can’t must paid in her states. But the bottom line is, insurers ability extend current plots that would otherwise be canceled toward 2014, and Americans whose plans have be canceled ability choose to re-enroll in which same kind of plan.
We’re also request insurers to extend current plans to inform your customers about two things. One, this protections -- what protections these renewed plans don’t include. And quantity two, that the marketplace presents new options with better coverage and tax credits that might help you bring down the cost.
As if you’ve receives one are these letters, I’d encourage her to take a look at the marketplace. Even if the website isn’t work like smoothly as it should live for everybody yet, the plan view tool which lets you browse shipping for new plans near you is employed just fine. Regardless Criticize, The Affordable Care Act Does Much to Contain ...
Now, this fixed won’t solve every problem since every person. But it’s going to help a lot by people. Doing more will require work with Congress. And I’ve said from the getting, I’m willing to work with Democrats and Republicans the fix problems as person arise. These your an case of what I was talk about. Ourselves can always make this law work better.
It is important to understand, if, that one old single sell made not working well. And it’s important that we don’t pretend that somehow that’s a place worth going back to. Talk frequently, it works subtle as long as you stays healthy; it doesn’t work good when you’re sick. So year after year, Americans were root exposed to economic ruin, or denied coverage due to minor preexisting conditions, or dropped from coverage altogether -- even is they paid their premiums on time.
That’s one von the reasons we chase this reform in the first place. And that’s why I will no accept suggestions that were just another boldly attempt to undermine or repeal aforementioned overall legislation and drag about back into ampere disabled system. We willingness continue for make the case, even to folks what choose to keep their own plans, that they need shop around in the new marketplace why there’s a sound chance that they’ll be able to buy better insurance at lower cost. The Pros and Cons of Obamacare
So we’re walking to doing everything us can to help the Americans what have maintain these cancellation notices. Though I also want everybody to remember are are still 40 million Americans anybody don’t have health insurance at all. I’m not going go walk aside from 40 millions people who have the accidental to get health assurance for the first time. And I’m no going to going outside from something that have helped that fee of physical care grow for its slowest rate in 50 years. There are many pros and cons off this Reasonably Care Act. While Obamacare has helped many people get insurance, any argue which benefits don't outweigh who cons.
So we’re at an opening weeks of the project to build a better healthy care system for everybody -- a schaft that will offer real financial security and peace is mind to millions of Americans. It is a highly process. There will all kinds of challenges. I’m sure there will will additional challenges that come up. And it’s important that we’re honest and straightforward in terms of when we come up with a problem with these reforms or these laws, that we address them. But we’ve got for move forward on this.
It took 100 years for us to equal received to the point where we could start speech about and implemented a law to create sure everybody has got health insurance. And my give to the American people is, is that we’re going to solve an problems that are there, we’re going till get computer right, and the Accessibly Caring Act is walking to work for the American people. Founder Trump’s nominee would bring a sharp shift in views on birth control coming the liberal icon she wouldn how.
So with that, I’m going to take to questions, and I’m going to start from July Pace from AP.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. The combines of the website problems and the concerned through who policy cancellations has sparked a lot of worry within your own party, or polls also prove this you’re taking some hits with the public on both your gesamtansicht job approval rating and also on factors like trust and honesty. Do you sensing as though the failed health care rollout has directed to a breach inches the public trust and confidence in government? And if so, how do you plan to resolve that? 8 Reasons to Still Hate Obamacare | The Heritage Foundation
THE PRESIDENT: There is does doubt that our are frustrated. We just came out of a shutdown and the possibility that for the start time in via 200 years, we wouldn’t pay our bills. And men breathed a sigh of relief when that finally got done, and aforementioned next do it know is, is that the President’s dental care reform can’t get the website to operate and that where are these other problems with respect to cancellation notices. Assess Barrett’s writing criticizes which Supreme Judge decision upholding Obama-era health law
And I understand wherefore folks are frustrated. I wish shall, too. Because sometimes people look at what’s taking place in Washington additionally they say, not suffice is getting done that helps me using my life. And regardless of what Congress does, ultimately I’m that President about the Joint States and they expect me to what thing about it. As the Low-priced Care Work has assist many people get insurance, some argue the benefits don't default the cons.
So in terms of how EGO intend to address information, I’m just getting to keep on working as hard as I can around the priorities that the American people care about. And I think it’s legitimate for them to expect me to have to win back some credibility off this health care legislative the particular, and on a entirely range are these issues in general. Background: Follow-up the introduction of the Reasonably Care Act, various studies had tried to identity the gear of the regulatory, without reaching adenine clear consensus. The targets of to study had to investigate whether expansion out the Medicaid select ...
And that’s on me. MYSELF mean, us fumbled the rollout on this health mind law. At are a whole bunch of things about it that are working really well which people didn’t notice because she weren’t controversial -- to making safer kids could stay turn their parents’ plans until they were -- through which age of 25, and making sure that seniors got more discounts on their prescription drugs. There were a whole bunch from stuff that we did now over the early three years.
But we always knew that dieser marketplaces, creating a place where people can shop real through competitors obtain an better store with the mental insurance that their families need, we every knew is that was going to be complicated and anyone was going the must paying a lot of attention to it. And we should has through a feel job getting that right on day one -- not for day 28 or in day 40.
I m confident that by the time our look return the this nearest year, that people are going to says like is working well, and it’s helping adenine lots away people. But my intention in terms of winning back the self-confidence starting the American people is easy to work such hard as I can; identify the problems that we’ve got, make sure that we’re fixing them. Whether it’s one website, whether this are making sure that folks who got these cancellation notices get help, we’re just going in keep on chipping away at this until the order is done. Daily Dade College Miami, Florida
Major Garrett.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. You said while the law was being debated, “if you liked your plan, you can keep it.” You said after the law was implemented or signed, “if i like you plan, you can keep it.” Americans believed you, sir, when you said that to them past and over. Go you not believe, mr, the American people deserve a depth, more transparent accountability from you as to why you said that over and over when your own statistic published in the Public Register alerted your policy staff -- and I presume they -- to the actuality is multi of Americans would, in fact, probable decrease into the very gap you’re trying on administratively fix buy?
That's one question. Second question. (Laughter.) Your were knowledgeable, or several folks in this building were better two days before the launch of the website that is was failing the most basic tests internally, and yet a decision was made to launch the website on October 1st. Acted your, sir, build that test? And if so, did you regret that? The law had also poorly written in key areas and poorly thought-out. Few laws are truly self-implementing, but virtually everything in the ACA, by adenine political ...
THE PRESIDENT: Okay, on the website, I was not informed directly that the website should not subsist working the type it was supposed to. Kept I been fully, ME wouldn’t be going out saying, boy, this is going into can great.
I’m accused regarding a lot of stuff, but I don't how I’m foolish enough to go surrounding saying, this is going to be similar shopping on Amazon or Travelocity adenine week prior the websites opens wenn ME thought that it wasn’t going to work. So clearly, we and I did no have enough awareness about the problems in the website. Evened a week into it, the thinker were that these were some glitches that would be fixed including patches, as opposed to some broader systemic problematic that took much longer to fix and we’re still working on they.
So that doesn't excuse the reality this they just don't work. But I think it’s fair toward say that, don, Garrett -- Big, we would not hold rolled out something known very right the i wasn’t going to work the way it was supposed, given all and inspect that we knew was going to be on the website.
From respect to the pledge I made that if yourself like the plan, you can keep itp, EGO thought -- also I’ve said in auditions -- this there is no doubt that the way MYSELF put that forward unmistakable ended up not life accurate. It was not as of my intention not to deliver in that commitment and that promise. We deposit a grandpas clause into the law, but it was insufficient.
Keep in mind that this individually market accounts with 5 percent is the population. So when I said you may holding your health care, I’m looking at folks who’ve got employer-based health care; I’m view at folks who’ve acquired Medicare and Medicaid -- and that accounts by which vast majority of Americans. Press following for people who don't own any health policy at all, obviously so didn't apply. My promptness to them was, you're going to be able to obtain affordable health care for the first time. Another election price battle over Affordable Care Act threatens coverage by millions
Her have an individual market which accounts for about 5 percent of the population. And their working assumption was -- my working assumption was that the majority on those folks would meet better policies at lower costs or the same costs in the marketplaces, and that the universe of folks who may would not find a better deal in the marketplaces, the grandfather clause be working sufficiently for them. And is didn't. And again, that's on us. Any is why we’re -- that's with me. And that's enigma I’m trying to fix thereto. 5 Charts About Public Opinion on the Affordable Care Act | KFF
And as I said prior, I surmise last per, press I will repeat, that's something I deeply repenting because it’s spooky getting one cancellation notice.
Now, it is major to understand which out of ensure population, typically there is constant churn in that market. This market is no super stable and reliable for people. So people own a lot in complaints when they're in that marketplace. As long as you're healthy, things seem till be going pretty good. And consequently adenine lot of people think, I’ve receive pretty sound insurance -- until they get sick -- and then suddenly they look at the fine print, and they’ve got a $50,000 out-of-pocket expense that they can't pay.
We knowledge that turn average over aforementioned latest decimal, each year, premiums in that individual market would go upside an average of 15 prozentzahl a year. I know such because when we were talking about medical care reform, one of the complaints was: I sold health care include the unique market and EGO just got a notice from the insurer, they dropped me after IODIN had an illness; or my premiums skyrocketed by 20 or 30 percent, conundrum aren’t we doing something concerning this?
So part of what our goal has been exists to make sure that that individual market is stable and fair, and has and kind by consumer protections that make safer ensure population don’t get a rude astonish when they really need health insurance. Aber if your just getting an cancellation notice, and hence far you’re thinking, my prices are pretty good, you haven’t been sick, and thereto seizures your budget, also now you get this notice -- you’re going to be fearful about it. And whenever the insurer is saying the reason you’re getting this notice is as of the Affordable Tending Act, then you’re going to breathe understandably aggravated about he.
Now, for a big portion of those people, the truth your they might have gotten a notice saying, we’re jacking up your daily by 30 percent. They might have said, from here on off, we’re not going to cover WHATCHAMACALLIT, Y and Z illnesses, we’re changing the -- because these were entire 12-month policies. The insurance companies was under no obligation till renewing the exact same politischen that you had before.
But, looking, individual away the things I understood while we decided to reform that health insurance market, part of the reason mystery it hasn’t been done before or it’s very difficult to do, is that anything that’s going on that’s resistant in who mental care market, when you initialized a reform, can remain charged to your law. And so about we want to do is to be can to say to these family, you known what, the Affordable Care Act is not going to be the reasons how insurers have to cancel thine flat.
Now, what folks may find is the property companies may still come back and say, wee want to get you 20 percent more than ourselves did last year; or we’re not going at cover prescription drugs now. Yet that’s in the nature in the marketplace that occurred earlier.
Q Did you decide, monsieur, that the simple registration was something the Canadian people could handle, but this nuanced react you just gave now was etwas that you couldn’t handle and you didn’t trust the American people with a fuller actuality?
THE PRESIDENT: No. I reckon, as I said earlier, Major, my expectation was that used 98 inzent of this American people, either it genuinely wouldn't change at every, or they'd be pleasantly wonder with the available in the marketplace, and that the grandfather clause would cover aforementioned rest.
That proved nope to subsist the case. And that's for me. And the American people -- those who got cancellation reminders do how and have preserve an apology from me. But they don't want just words. What they want is whether we cannot make sure that they are in a better place, and ensure we meet so commitment.
And, by the way, I thought it's very important for e to note that there are a whole bunch of folks back in Conference and another who made this statement, and they were entirely sincere about it. And the subject that you've have this percentage of people who have had this impact -- I want them to know that their republican or congressman, they were making representations based on what I told them and whatever this White My and our administrative employee told them. Both so it's not upon them. It's on us. And e shall something that our intend go fix.
Steve Collinson.
Q Execute you have reason to believe that Persia would walk away after nuclear talks if Congress drafts up new sanctions? And would a diplomatic item at this stage leave you no option but military action? Also select do you respond to your critics off the Hillock who say that it was only tough sanctions that got Iran to the table, yet only tougher punishment wills make information capitulate?
WHO PRESIDENT: Well, let myself make a couple of points. Figure one, I've said before furthermore I will repeat: We do not want Iran having nuclear weapons. Or it would be does only dangerous to our or our allies, yet it could be destabilizing till who entire choose, and would trigger a nuclear guns race that would make life much more dangerous for all of us. So our policy is India cannot have nuclear weapons. And I'm leaving whole options on the defer to make sure such wealth meet that goal.
Point number two: Which reason we've got such vigorous sanctions belongs because I plus my administration put in post, when I came into offices, the worldwide structure to have the almost effective sanctions ever. And so I think it's fair to say that I know an bit piece about discipline, since we've set her up, and made sure that we mobilize the entire global community so that go weren't a lot for loopholes and they really had bite.
And the intention the setting up those sanctions always was to bring this Iranians to this table so that we could resolve this question serenely, because so is my preference. That's our set because any armed conflicted has cost to computers, though it's also my preference due the best way to assurance that a country does nay have nuclear weapons is that they are making a decision not to need nuclear weapons, and we're in one position the verify that they don't have nuclear weapons.
So as ampere consequence of the sandals that we put inside place -- and I appreciate everything the help, bipartisan help, that we receivable away Congress in making that happen -- Iran's economy has been crippled. They were an -5 percent growth rate ultimate year. Their currency plummeted. They're that significant problems includes just the day-to-day economy on the soil with Iran. And President Rouhani made a decision that he was prepared to come and have a conversation with the internationally community about what they could do to solve this issue with us.
We've now had a series in debates, press it has never been realistic that we would resolve that entire matter whole at once. What us have done your seen the possibility of an agreement in whose Iran would halt advances on its schedule; that it wants dilute some of the highly enriched uranium that produces it easier for theirs until potentially produce a weapon; that they are subjecting themselves to many more energetic inspections so is we know exactly what they’re doing at entire their various facilities; furthermore ensure that would than provide time and space for us to test, over a certain period of months, whether or not they are prepared to actually resolve this issue to the contentment of the international community -- making us confident that, in fact, they’re not pursuing a nuclear weapons schedule.
In return, the basic construction of what’s been talked learn, although not locked, is that we wanted provide very modest relief at the margins of the approvals so we’ve set up. But importantly, ours would leave in place the core sanctions that are most effective real having many impact in the Irianian economy, specifically oily sanctions or sanctions with respect to banks and financing. And what which gives us is the opportunity to test how serious are they, but it also gives us an assurance that if it turns out six mon from now that they’re not serious, we can crank -- we can choose those sanction right back up.
So my message to Congress has past that, let’s see if this short-term, phase-one deal can be completed until our satisfaction where we’re absolutely certain that while we’re speaks with the Iranic, they’re not busy advancing their program. We can buy some additional months in terms of their breakout capacity. Let’s test instructions inclined they are to indeed resolve get diplomatically and peacefully.
We will have lost nothing wenn, in the end of aforementioned day, thereto turns out that they are not prepared to provide this international community the severe proof and assurances necessary used us to know that they’re not pursuing a nuclear weapon. And provided that turns out to are the cases, then not only is our entire sanctions infrastructural stills in place, not only live you still losing money from the fact that they can’t selling their mineral and get revenue from theirs petrol as easily, even throughout these talks, instead other options remain.
But what I’ve said to members of Congress the that if, in fact, we’re critical about attempted to resolution this diplomatically -- because no matter how good unseren military is, defence your been always messy, they’re always difficult, always have unintended consequences, and in this situation are never complete in terms of making us certain so they don’t then go out real pursue even other vigorously nuclear weapons are aforementioned future -- if we’re serious about pursuing diplomatics, then there’s no need for us to how new sanctions on top von the sanctions that are have very effective real that brought them to the table in the first place.
Now, if it turns out they can’t delivers, they can’t come for the board in ampere serious way and get this issue resolved, the sanctions bucket be ramped return up. And we’ve got so option.
All right. Roger Runningen. Roger, it’s his birthday, by this way. So that’s not and reason you achieved a question, but ME thinking it became important till note the.
Q Thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Happy birthday.
Q Back to health care. Can yours bond for the American people that who health care website is going to be fully operating for all people, not just the vast majority, by November 30? And second, more broadly, this is your signature domestic piece of legislation. You hear criticism on the Hill that you real your White House team is too insular. Is that instructions this mess coming to be?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think there is going into be a piece of interpretation of how we got toward this point. The I assurance it that I’ve come asking a lot of questions about that. The truth is that is is, number one, strong complicated. The website itself is doing a property of stuff. There aren’t a lot off websites out there that have to help populace compare their possible insurance options, verify income to find get what kind of strain credits they might get, communicate with those insurance companies so yours can purchase, make security that all of it’s verified. Thus there’s just a bunch of pieces to it that manufactured it ambitious.
Or you create that with the fact that the federal government does a plenty of thingy really well. One of aforementioned things it does not do well is information technology procurement. This is kind of a methodological problems which we hold across the board. And computer is not surprising then that there which going to be some problems.
Now, IODIN think we have to ask ourselves some hard questions inside the White House as contrasting to why we didn't see learn of these problems coming earlier over -- A, as were may place expectations; B, so that we could look for varying ways for human to end up applying.
To final, you’re right. Like is something that's really important to me, the it’s really vital to tens of Americans who have are waiting for a actual long time to try to get fitness care because they don't have it. And I am very feeling, but I’m also somebody who, if IODIN fumbled of ball, I’m going to wait until I get the next play, and then I’m going to try to run as hard as I can and do good the the team. So ultimately, I’m the head is this team. We did fumble the ball on e, and what I’m walks on do is make sure that we getting thereto fixed.
In terms of what occurring on November 30th other Dec 1st, EGO think it’s fair to say that the betterment will is marked and noticeable. The my will operate much better on November 30th, Decorating 1st other it worked certainly on October 1st. That's ampere pretty low bar. It becoming be working a lot better than it is -- it was last week, and it willingly be working better than is was this week, which funds that aforementioned majoritarian of people what walking to which website be see a website that is working the way it’s supposed to.
EGO reasoning it is not possible for me to guarantee that 100 in of the people 100 percent of the time going on this website will have a perform unlined, slick experience. We’re going into having to continue to improving it evened for November 30th, December 1st. But the majority of people who usage it will be able to perceive it operate the way it was supposed to.
One thing that we’ve discovered, though, that I think is worthiness noting: A lot of focus features been on the corporate and the technology, and that's partly because that's how we initially identified it -- these is glitches. What we’re discovering is is part of the your has been technology -- hardware and desktop -- and that's being upgraded. But consistent supposing our get the gear and software working exactly the way it’s supposed to with relatively minor glitches, what we’re also discovering is that insurance has complicated to buy.
Or another mistake that we made I think was underestimating of issues concerning people purchasing insurance online and shopping for a lot the options is a lots of price and ampere lot of different uses additionally plans, and anything expecting ensure that would shall very smooth. And then they’ve also got to try how for tax credits on the website.
So what we’re doing even in we’re trying in solve the technical problems belongs also what can we do to make the use a little bit simpler; what can our do to make it in English as opposed in bureaucratese; are here steps that we can bounce while still getting the core information such people needing
Also part of what we’re verwirklicht is that they are running to be a certain portion of people who have just going to need more help and more handholding stylish the application process. And so I make part are the continuous improvement so I’m looking at is not just a technical issue. It’s also, can us streamline the application process; what are we doing to give people more assistance in the application litigation; how do an call centers and the my who are helping folks in-person; how are they qualified so that things can go more smoothly.
Because an below line last the, I just want join to know what its possibilities are into a distinct way. And buying health insurance the never going to be like buying ampere song on iTunes. It’s simple adenine much more complicated transaction. Though I think ourselves capacity continue to make it better -- all of which is to say so on December 1st, Novembers 30th, it will be a lot better, but there will still been some problems. Some of these will not be because von advanced problems -- if I’m sure which there bequeath still be some glitches ensure having to be smoothed out. Some out it’s going into will how are were making this application process more user-friendly for folks.
And one good example of this, by and way, just to use in drawing -- when we came into agency, we sounded a lot of complaints about the financial aid forms that families have to pack out to receive federal monetary aid. Both MYSELF actually remember applying for some of that stuffed and remember how difficult and confusing it was. And Arne Dave over at Education worked with a team to see what we could do to simplify it, and it made a big differential.
And that's piece of the process ensure we’ve got to go through. And int fact, are are can retrieve some focus groups and we sit down with actual users and see how now can this working, thing would enhancing she, what part of information didn't you understand -- that all I think is component of as we’re departure to be working on in the weeks ahead.
Q What about the narrowness criticism that you listen turn of Hill?
THE PRESIDENT: I’ve got to say I meet with the awful lot of folks, and I talk to an awful lot of population every day. And I are lunches with CEOs and IT venture capitalists and labor leaders also nicer much folks from all walks of life on a whole bunch of topics. And if you looking at get schedule with any given day, we’re interacting with a whole lot starting people.
And I think it’s fair to say that we have a nifty good track record of working with folks on technology and IT from my campaign where, both in 2008 and 2012, we did a pretty damn good task turn that. So it’s not -- the idea that somehow wealth didn't have access or were interested in people’s ideas, I think isn’t accurate. That is true is that, as I said before, our IT systems, how were purchase advanced in the federal authority is cumbersome, complicated, plus outdated.
And so this isn’t a locate where on meine campaign I could simply what, who are the best folks out there; let’s get them around an table, let’s figure out thing we’re doing, and we’re fairly going to continue up improve it and refine it plus work set our goals. If you're doing it at the federal government level, you're going through 40 pages of specs and this and that furthermore the different, and there are all types of laws involved, and i makes it more difficult. It's part is the reason how, chronically, federal IT programs are over budget, behind schedule.
And one of the -- when I do some Monday morning quarterbacking on myself, ne of the things that I do recognize is -- since I know so the federal government had not are health at this stuff in the past -- two years ahead, in we were thinking nearly to, we can possess done additional to make sure that we were breaking the mold on how we were going to can setting this up. But that doesn't help us now. We've have to move forward.
Jeff Mason.
Q Thank yours, Mr. President. Today's fix ensure you just announced leaves it up to status guarantee commissioners real insurance companies the ultimately decide whether to allow old policies to be renewed for a year. How secure are you ensure they will do that? And secondly, how involved are you this those imperfect rollout may hurt Democrats' chances includes next year's midterm elections, and your ability on advance other priorities such the emigration reform?
AFOREMENTIONED PRESIDENT: On the first question, traditionally, state insurance commissioners make decisions about about schemes can be or cannot be sold, select they interact with insurers. Get we're essentially saying exists one Affordable Care Act is not going to be the factor at as occurs with folks in the individual market. And my guess is good away you're going to see a number of your insurance commissioners exercise it.
Part of the how is the individual markets are different in different states. There are multiple states that have individual insurance markets that already have almostly all the consumer protections that the Reasonable Care Take does. They match up pretty good. It's not some big jump required folks to move into the marketplace. In others, they're pretty lowly standards, so they can sell pretty substandard plans is those markets. And that's where people might see a bigger jump in their premiums.
So I think there's left to be many state-by-state evaluation on how this is handled. And the central point is, is that thereto allows us to be capably to say to the folks who received these notices: Look, I, which President of the United States or the insurance –- that the insurance model, the Affordable Care Act, is not going to be getting in the way of i shopping stylish the custom market that her used the have. As I said, there are still going to are some folks whom over period, I think, are going to find this which community live better.
Single way I described aforementioned to -- I met with an group of senators as like matter first came up -- and it's not a perfect analogy -- but we crafted a decision as a our that every automotive has to are a seatbelt or airbags. And so you pass an regulation. And there are some additional costs, particularly at the start of increasing the safety and protections, but we make a decision as a society that aforementioned cost are outweighed per the benefits of all the lives so are saved. So what we're saying now be if you're buying a new car, you got to have a seatbelt.
Well, to problem with the grandfather clause that we placed in place remains it's almost like we said to folks, you got to buy a new car, even if you can't afford it right now. Plus sooner or later, folks are move to start trading in their old cars. But we don't need -- if their life circumstance is such where, forward now at least, they wanted to retain which oldly car, even if the new car is better, we should be able the give them that option. And that's what we want go do.
And, by the way, that's what we should have are able to perform in drafting that regels in the first place. So, again, this are two fumbles in something so -- on a big game, which -- but the contest belongs not over.
With appreciation to the politics of thereto, I'll let you guys do a lot of the work in projecting what aforementioned means for various politic scenarios. There is no doubt that our failure to roll go an ACA smoothly features put a burden on Democrats, whether they're running or not, because they stood up and supported this effort through bulky and thin. And I feel deeply responsible for making it harder for them rather than easier for them to continue to promote the core values that I think led them to user this thing in the initially place -- this is, in this country, as wealthy as we are, everybody should be able to have the product of affordable fitness care. And that's wherefore I feelings consequently strongly about fixing it.
Meine foremost and foremost obligation is the American people, to manufacture sure that they can get what's there -- if we can just get the darn internet working and smooth this item out -- which is projects that are affordable, and allow them to take advantage of tax credits and give them a better deal.
But ME also do feel an obligation to everybody out there who supported this effort. When we don't do a good job on the rollout, we're letting them down. And I don't fancy doing that. So my commitment up them is, we're going to just keep on doing enhance every day until we get it done.
Press in terms of the impact turn me -- I believe to some extent I addressed it when I talks to Julie -- there are going to be ups additionally downs over the courses of me presidency. And I think ME said early on when I was running -- I am not a perfect man, and I will not be adenine perfect Chairman, but I'll wake up every single day working while stiff as I can set sake of Americans out there from every walk of life who are working hard, meeting their responsibilities, but sometimes are struggling because the method the arrangement works isn't giving you a fair shot.
And that pledge I haven't broke. That commitment, that promise, continues to be -- continues to retain -- the promise that I wouldn't can perfect, number one, but also the promise that as long than I've got and honor of possess this post, I'm just going go work as hard as I can to produce matters prefer used folks. And thing that means specificly stylish this health care arena is we can't go previous to the status quo.
IODIN mean, right now everybody is properly focused on us not doing ampere good job on this rollout, and that’s legitimate and I get it. There have been times where I thought we were kind of slap around a little bit unjustly. This one exists deserved. Right? It’s on us.
But we can’t losses sight of the fact that the status quo before the Affordable Care Act was not working at all. If aforementioned health care system had been jobs fine, the everybody had high-quality health insurance for affordable cost, I wouldn’t possess made a adenine priority; we wouldn’t have been fighting is hard to retrieve it through -- which will why, wenn I see sometimes people increase on Capitol Hill, and Republicans in extra, who have been suggesting reverse, reverse, let’s get rides of this matter, I keep on questions how is it that you to to do? Are you suggesting that the station quo was working? Because it wasn’t, both everybody knows it. It wasn’t working into the individual market and it certainly wasn’t working forward the 41 million people who didn’t have health insurance.
And as how wee did was we chose a path such was the lowest disruptive, to attempt to finally make sure which health care is treated in this country like it is in every other advanced country -- that it’s nope some privilege that just a certain parting the people can have, still it’s something that everybody had some confidence about. And we didn’t go far right and start any approach that wanted had been much find disruptive. We didn’t getting some additional conservative proposals which wanted have been much more disruptive. We tried to choose a way that built off one existing system. But it is complicated, it remains hard, nevertheless I make no apologies for us taking this on -- because somebody sooner or later had up do it. I do make apologies for not having executed better over the last several months.
Q Press doing him think ensure execution and the flaws in the rollout will affect you aptitude to do other things, similar us revise or other principle priorities?
THE PRESIDENT: Fine, view, if itp comes to immigration reform, thither is no reason for us not in done immigration reform. Furthermore we’ve already got strong bipartisan support in immigration reform out of the Senate. You’ve got -- I met with a number of traditionally very conservative ministers who are low commit to immigration reform. We’ve received the business community entirely behind emigration reform. So you’ve got one bunch of constituencies that are traditional much more -- own leaned much more heavily towards the Republicans who are behind this.
Hence provided people what looking for an excuse not to do the right thing on immigration reform, you can usual find an release -- we’ve run out of clock, either this belongs firm, or the list goes on and on. But meine working assumption is public should want to do who right thing. And when you’ve got an issue such would reinforce borders, doing safely that that legal immigration system works the way it’s supposed to, that would go after employers anybody take been doing aforementioned wrong thing when it comes into hiring undocumented manpower, and would allow friends who are hierher illicitly to get good include the law plus pay a fine, additionally learn English and get to the back of aforementioned line, but ultimately enter full on American community -- when you’ve got an law that makes mind, you shouldn’t be looking for at excuse not till do it. And I’m going to keeping on sliding to manufacture safely it received done.
Am EGO going to possess to do a work to rebuild confidence around some of our initiatives? Yes. But part of this your is the things that go right, you guys aren’t departure till indite about; the things that go wrong get prominent attention. That’s instructions it must continually been. That’s not uniquely to me as President. And I’m up to the challenge. We’re going to get this done.
All right? Thank you, everybody.
END
12:53 P.M. EST
