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  • Ms. Baker: Hello, my name is Janice Baker.

  • I have the privilege to say that I'm the first person

  • in the state of Delaware to enroll for health insurance

  • through the new marketplace.

  • [Applause.]

  • Like many consumers out there,

  • it took me a number of frustrating attempts

  • before I could apply for and select my plan.

  • I kept trying because I needed access

  • to the new health care options.

  • I had applied to three private insurance companies

  • only to be rejected due to preexisting health conditions.

  • I am too young for Medicare,

  • but I'm too old not to have some health issues.

  • I was able to find a policy I am thrilled with,

  • saving $150 a month,

  • and much lower deductibles

  • than my previous policy that I held through my small business.

  • I'm here today to encourage other people like me

  • who needs access to quality, affordable insurance,

  • and to tell them to have patience with such a new system.

  • Without this ability to get this insurance,

  • I know that a single hospital stay

  • could have bankrupted me and my business.

  • Thank you all.

  • And I am now honored to introduce

  • the President of the United States.

  • [Applause.]

  • The President: Thank you.

  • [Applause.]

  • Thank you, everybody.

  • Well, thank you, Janice.

  • And thanks to everybody here for coming on this beautiful day.

  • Welcome to the White House.

  • About three weeks ago, as the federal government shut down,

  • the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplaces

  • opened for business across the country.

  • Well, we've now gotten the government back open

  • for the American people,

  • and today I want to talk about how we're going to get

  • the marketplaces running at full steam, as well.

  • And I'm joined today by folks who have either benefited

  • from the Affordable Care Act already,

  • or who are helping their fellow citizens learn

  • about what this law means for them

  • and how they can get covered.

  • Of course, you've probably heard that HealthCare.gov --

  • the new website where people can apply for health insurance,

  • and browse and buy affordable plans in most states --

  • hasn't worked as smoothly as it was supposed to work.

  • And the number of people who have visited the site

  • has been overwhelming,

  • which has aggravated some of these underlying problems.

  • Despite all that, thousands of people are signing up

  • and saving money as we speak.

  • Many Americans with a preexisting condition,

  • like Janice, are discovering that they can finally get

  • health insurance like everybody else.

  • So today, I want to speak to every American

  • who's looking to get affordable health insurance.

  • I want you to know what's available to you

  • and why it may be a good deal for you.

  • And for those who've had some problems with the website,

  • I want to tell you what we're doing to make it work better

  • and how you can sign up to get covered in other ways.

  • But before I do that, let me remind everybody

  • that the Affordable Care Act is not just a website.

  • It's much more.

  • For the vast majority of Americans --

  • for 85 percent of Americans who already have health insurance

  • through your employer or Medicare or Medicaid --

  • you don't need to sign up for coverage

  • through a website at all.

  • You've already got coverage.

  • What the Affordable Care Act does for you

  • is to provide you with new benefits and protections

  • that have been in place for some time.

  • You may not know it,

  • but you're already benefiting

  • from these provisions in the law.

  • For example, because of the Affordable Care Act,

  • young people like Jasmine Jennings,

  • and Jessica Ugalde, and Ezra Salop,

  • all of whom are here today,

  • they've been able to stay on their parents' plans

  • until they're 26.

  • Millions of other young people are currently benefiting

  • from that part of the law.

  • [Applause.]

  • Another part of the Affordable Care Act is providing seniors

  • with deeper discounts on their prescription medicine.

  • Billions of dollars have been saved by seniors already.

  • That's part of the law.

  • It's already in place.

  • It's happening right now.

  • Already, because of the Affordable Care Act,

  • preventive care like mammograms and birth control are free

  • through your employers.

  • That's part of this law.

  • [Applause.]

  • So there are a wide range of consumer protections

  • and benefits that you already have

  • if you've got health insurance.

  • You may not have noticed them, but you've got them,

  • and they're not going anywhere.

  • And they're not dependent on a website.

  • Here's another thing that the Affordable Care Act does.

  • In states where governors and legislatures

  • have wisely allowed it,

  • the Affordable Care Act provides the opportunity

  • for many Americans to get covered under Medicaid

  • for the first time.

  • So in Oregon, for example, that's helped cut the number of

  • uninsured people by 10 percent just in the last three weeks.

  • Think about that.

  • That's 56,000 more Americans who now have health care.

  • [Applause.]

  • That doesn't depend on a website.

  • Now, if you're one of the 15 percent of Americans

  • who don't have health insurance --

  • either because you can't afford it

  • or because your employer doesn't offer it,

  • or because you're a small businessperson

  • and you have to go out on the individual market

  • and buy it on your own and it's just too expensive --

  • October 1st was an important date.

  • That's when we opened the new marketplaces

  • where people without health insurance,

  • or who can't afford health insurance,

  • or who aren't part of a group plan,

  • can finally start getting affordable coverage.

  • And the idea is simple.

  • By enrolling in what we're calling these marketplaces,

  • you become part of a big group plan --

  • as if you were working for a big employer --

  • a statewide group plan that spreads risk

  • between sick people and healthy people,

  • between young and old, and then bargains on your behalf

  • for the best deal on health care.

  • What we've done is essentially create a competition

  • where there wasn't competition before.

  • We created these big group plans,

  • and now insurers are really interested

  • in getting your business.

  • And so insurers have created new health care plans

  • with more choices to be made available

  • through these marketplaces.

  • And as a result of this choice and this competition,

  • prices have come down.

  • When you add the new tax credits

  • that many people are eligible for through the law,

  • then the prices come down even further.

  • So one study shows that through new options created

  • by the Affordable Care Act,

  • nearly 6 in 10 uninsured Americans

  • will find that they can get covered

  • for less than $100 a month.

  • Think about that.

  • [Applause.]

  • Through the marketplaces,

  • you can get health insurance for what may be the equivalent

  • of your cell phone bill or your cable bill,

  • and that's a good deal.

  • So the fact is the product of the Affordable Care Act

  • for people without health insurance

  • is quality health insurance that's affordable.

  • And that product is working.

  • It's really good.

  • And it turns out there's a massive demand for it.

  • So far, the national website, HealthCare.gov,

  • has been visited nearly 20 million times.

  • Twenty million times.

  • [Applause.]

  • And there's great demand at the state level as well,

  • because there are a bunch of states

  • that are running their own marketplaces.

  • We know that nearly one-third of the people

  • applying in Connecticut and Maryland, for example,

  • are under 35 years old.

  • They understand that they can get a good deal at low costs,

  • have the security of health care,

  • and this is not just for old folks like me --

  • that everybody needs good quality health insurance.

  • And all told, more than half a million consumers

  • across the country have successfully submitted

  • applications through federal and state marketplaces.

  • And many of those applications aren't just for individuals,

  • it's for their entire families.

  • So even more people are already looking

  • to potentially take advantage

  • of the high quality, affordable insurance

  • that is provided through the Affordable Care Act.

  • So let me just recap here.

  • The product is good.

  • The health insurance that's being provided is good.

  • It's high quality and it's affordable.

  • People can save money, significant money,

  • by getting insurance that's being provided

  • through these marketplaces.

  • And we know that the demand is there.

  • People are rushing to see what's available.

  • And those who have already had a chance to enroll

  • are thrilled with the result.

  • Every day, people who were stuck with sky-high premiums

  • because of preexisting conditions

  • are getting affordable insurance for the first time,

  • or finding, like Janice did,

  • that they're saving a lot of money.

  • Every day, women are finally buying coverage

  • that doesn't charge them higher premiums than men

  • for the same care.

  • [Applause.]

  • Every day, people are discovering

  • that new health insurance plans have to cover maternity care,

  • mental health care, free preventive care.

  • So you just heard Janice's story --

  • she owns her own small business.

  • She recently became the first woman to enroll in coverage

  • through Delaware's exchange.

  • And it's true, it took her a few tries,

  • but it was worth it after being turned down for insurance

  • three times due to minor preexisting conditions.

  • So now she'll be covered, she'll save 150 bucks a month,

  • and she won't have to worry that one illness or accident

  • will cost her her business that she's worked so hard to build.

  • And Janice is not alone.

  • I recently received a letter from a woman named Jessica

  • Sanford in Washington State.

  • And here's what she wrote: "I am a single mom, no child support,

  • self-employed, and I haven't had insurance for 15 years

  • because it's too expensive.

  • My son has ADHD and requires regular doctor visits and his

  • meds alone cost $250 per month.

  • I have had an ongoing tendinitis problem due to my line of work

  • that I haven't had treated.

  • Now, finally, we get to have coverage because of the ACA

  • for $169 per month.

  • I was crying the other day when I signed up.

  • So much stress lifted."

  • Now, that is not untypical for a lot of folks like Jessica

  • who have been struggling without health insurance.

  • That's what the Affordable Care Act is all about.

  • The point is, the essence of the law --

  • the health insurance that's available to people --

  • is working just fine.

  • In some cases, actually, it's exceeding expectations --

  • the prices are lower than we expected,

  • the choice is greater than we expected.

  • But the problem has been that the website that's supposed to

  • make it easy to apply for and purchase the insurance

  • is not working the way it should for everybody.

  • And there's no sugarcoating it.

  • The website has been too slow, people have been getting stuck

  • during the application process.

  • And I think it's fair to say that nobody

  • is more frustrated by that than I am --

  • precisely because the product is good,

  • I want the cash registers to work.

  • I want the checkout lines to be smooth.

  • So I want people to be able to get this great product.

  • And there's no excuse for the problems,

  • and these problems are getting fixed.

  • But while we're working out the kinks in the system,

  • I want everybody to understand the nature of the problem.

  • First of all, even with all the problems at HealthCare.gov,

  • the website is still working for a lot of people --

  • just not as quick or efficient or consistent as we want.

  • And although many of these folks have found that they had to wait

  • longer than they wanted, once they complete the process

  • they're very happy with the deal that's available to them,

  • just like Janice's.

  • Second, I want everybody to remember that we're only

  • three weeks into a six-month open enrollment period,

  • when you can buy these new plans.

  • [Applause.]

  • Keep in mind the insurance doesn't start until January 1st;

  • that's the earliest that the insurance can kick in.

  • No one who decides to purchase a plan

  • has to pay their first premium until December 15th.

  • And unlike the day after Thanksgiving sales

  • for the latest Playstation or flat-screen TVs,

  • the insurance plans don't run out.

  • They're not going to sell out.

  • They'll be available through the marketplace --

  • [applause]

  • -- throughout the open enrollment period.

  • The prices that insurers have set will not change.

  • So everybody who wants insurance through the marketplace

  • will get insurance, period.

  • [Applause.]

  • Everybody who wants insurance through the marketplace

  • will get insurance.

  • Third, we are doing everything we can possibly do

  • to get the websites working better, faster, sooner.

  • We've got people working overtime, 24/7,

  • to boost capacity and address the problems.

  • Experts from some of America's top private-sector

  • tech companies who, by the way,

  • have seen things like this happen before,

  • they want it to work.

  • They're reaching out.

  • They're offering to send help.

  • We've had some of the best IT talent

  • in the entire country join the team.

  • And we're well into a "tech surge" to fix the problem.

  • And we are confident that we will get all the problems fixed.

  • Number four -- while the website will ultimately be

  • the easiest way to buy insurance through the marketplace,

  • it isn't the only way.

  • And I want to emphasize this.

  • Even as we redouble our efforts to get the site working

  • as well as it's supposed to,

  • we're also redoubling our efforts to make sure

  • you can still buy the same quality,

  • affordable insurance plans available on the marketplace

  • the old-fashioned way -- offline,

  • either over the phone or in person.

  • And, by the way, there are a lot of people who want to take

  • advantage of this who are more comfortable

  • working on the phone anyway or in person.

  • So let me go through the specifics as to how you can do

  • that if you're having problems with the website

  • or you just prefer dealing with a person.

  • Yesterday, we updated the website's home page to offer

  • more information about the other avenues to enroll in affordable

  • health care until the online option works for everybody.

  • So you'll find information about how to talk to a specialist

  • who can help you apply over the phone

  • or to receive a downloadable application

  • you can fill out yourself and mail in.

  • We've also added more staff to the call centers

  • where you can apply for insurance over the phone.

  • Those are already -- they've been working.

  • But a lot of people have decided first to go to the website.

  • But keep in mind, these call centers

  • are already up and running.

  • And you can get your questions answered by real people,

  • 24 hours a day, in 150 different languages.

  • The phone number for these call centers is 1-800-318-2596.

  • I want to repeat that -- 1-800-318-2596.

  • Wait times have averaged less than one minute so far

  • on the call centers,

  • although I admit that the wait times probably

  • might go up a little bit now that I've read the number

  • out loud on national television.

  • [Laughter.]

  • But the point is the call centers are available.

  • You can talk to somebody directly

  • and they can walk you through the application process.

  • And I guarantee you, if one thing is worth the wait,

  • it's the safety and security of health care that you can afford,

  • or the amount of money that you can save by buying health

  • insurance through the marketplaces.

  • [Applause.]

  • Once you get on the phone with a trained representative,

  • it usually takes about 25 minutes

  • for an individual to apply for coverage,

  • about 45 minutes for a family.

  • Once you apply for coverage, you will be contacted by email

  • or postal mail about your coverage status.

  • But you don't have to just go through the phone.

  • You can also apply in person

  • with the help of local navigators --

  • these are people specially trained

  • to help you sign up for health care,

  • and they exist all across the country,

  • or you can go to community health centers and hospitals.

  • Just visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov

  • to find out where in your area you can get help

  • and apply for insurance in person.

  • And finally, if you've already tried

  • to apply through the website

  • and you've been stuck somewhere along the way,

  • do not worry.

  • In the coming weeks, we will contact you directly,

  • personally, with a concrete recommendation for how you can

  • complete your application, shop for coverage,

  • pick a plan that meets your needs,

  • and get covered once and for all.

  • So here's the bottom line.

  • The product, the health insurance is good.

  • The prices are good.

  • It is a good deal.

  • People don't just want it; they're showing up to buy it.

  • Nobody is madder than me about the fact

  • that the website isn't working as well as it should,

  • which means it's going to get fixed.

  • [Laughter and applause.]

  • And in the meantime,

  • you can bypass the website and apply by phone or in person.

  • So don't let problems with the website deter you

  • from signing up, or signing your family up,

  • or showing your friends how to sign up,

  • because it is worth it.

  • It will save you money.

  • If you don't have health insurance,

  • if you've got a preexisting condition,

  • it will save you money and it will give you the security

  • that your family needs.

  • In fact, even with the website issues,

  • we've actually made the overall process of buying insurance

  • through the marketplace a lot smoother and easier

  • than the old way of buying insurance on your own.

  • Part of the challenge here is that a lot of people may not

  • remember what it's like to buy insurance the traditional way.

  • The way we've set it up, there are no more absurdly

  • long application forms.

  • There's no medical history questionnaire that goes on

  • for pages and pages.

  • There's no more getting denied because you've had

  • a preexisting condition.

  • Instead of contacting a bunch of different insurers

  • one at a time,

  • which is what Janice and a lot of people

  • who are shopping on the individual market

  • for health insurance had to do,

  • there's one single place you can go shop and compare plans

  • that have to compete for your business.

  • There's one single phone number you can call for help.

  • And once the kinks in the website have been ironed out,

  • it will be an even smoother and even easier.

  • But in the meantime, we will help you sign up --

  • because consumers want to buy this product

  • and insurance companies want to sell it to you.

  • Now, let me close by addressing some of the politics

  • that have swirled around the Affordable Care Act.

  • I recognize that the Republican Party has made blocking

  • the Affordable Care Act its signature policy idea.

  • Sometimes it seems to be the one thing

  • that unifies the party these days.

  • [Laughter.]

  • In fact, they were willing to shut down the government

  • and potentially harm the global economy

  • to try to get it repealed.

  • And I'm sure that given the problems

  • with the website so far,

  • they're going to be looking to go after it even harder.

  • And let's admit it -- with the website not working

  • as well as it needs to work,

  • that makes a lot of supporters nervous

  • because they know how it's been subject to so much attack,

  • the Affordable Care Act generally.

  • But I just want to remind everybody,

  • we did not wage this long and contentious battle

  • just around a website.

  • That's not what this was about.

  • [Applause.]

  • We waged this battle to make sure that millions

  • of Americans in the wealthiest nation on Earth finally have

  • the same chance to get the same security of affordable quality

  • health care as anybody else.

  • That's what this is about.

  • [Applause.]

  • And the Affordable Care Act has done that.

  • People can now get good insurance.

  • People with preexisting conditions

  • can now afford insurance.

  • And if the launch of this website proves anything,

  • it's that people across the country

  • don't just need that security, they want that security.

  • They want it.

  • [Applause.]

  • And in the meantime -- I've said many times --

  • I'm willing to work with anyone on any idea

  • to make this law perform even better.

  • But it's time for folks to stop rooting for its failure,

  • because hardworking, middle-class families

  • are rooting for its success.

  • [Applause.]

  • And if the product is good, they're willing to be patient.

  • I got a letter last week

  • from a self-employed man named John Mier

  • in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania.

  • He used the new marketplace to get himself and his wife covered

  • and save a lot of money.

  • And here's what he said,

  • because it pretty much sums up my message today:

  • "Yes, the website really stank for the first week."

  • [Laughter.]

  • "But instead of paying $1,600 per month

  • for a group insurance plan,

  • we have a plan that will only cost us $692 a month --

  • a savings of $900 per month."

  • [Applause.]

  • John said that while he saw --

  • when he saw what they'd be paying,

  • he turned to his wife and told her,

  • "We might just pull through.

  • We can afford this."

  • And John eventually predicted that

  • "the website will work like a champ."

  • So John, he was frustrated by the website,

  • but he's feeling a little less frustrated once he found out

  • that he was saving 900 bucks a month on his health insurance.

  • [Applause.]

  • And John is right, the website is going to get fixed

  • and the law works.

  • That's why we fought so hard to pass this law --

  • to save folks like John money;

  • to give people who don't have health insurance

  • the chance to get it for the first time;

  • to lift from the American people the crushing burden

  • of unaffordable health care;

  • to free families from the pervasive fear

  • that one illness --

  • I'm right here.

  • I got you.

  • [Laughter.]

  • No, no -- you're okay.

  • This happens when I talk too long.

  • [Laughter.]

  • You'll be okay.

  • Here, why don't you go.

  • [Applause.]

  • Good catch, by the way, whoever was here.

  • [Laughter.]

  • But that's always our goal,

  • to free families from the pervasive fear that one illness

  • or one injury might cost you everything

  • that you dedicated a lifetime to build.

  • Our goal has always been to declare that in this country the

  • security of health care is not a privilege for a fortunate few.

  • It's a right for all to enjoy.

  • [Applause.]

  • That's what the Affordable Care Act is all about.

  • That's its promise.

  • And I intend to deliver on that promise.

  • Thank you very much, everybody.

  • God bless you.

  • [Applause.]

Ms. Baker: Hello, my name is Janice Baker.

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