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President Obama on Government-Run Health Care: Then and Now

Washington, Aug 12 -

President Obama on Government-Run Health Care: Then and Now

Then:

“If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what.” (Remarks by the President at the Annual Conference of the American Medical Association, June 15, 2009)

“He didn't let up. ‘If you like what you're getting, keep it,’ Obama said. "Nobody is forcing you to shift.’” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Promises, Promises: Obama's health plan claims,” The Washington Post, June 19, 2009)

“That means if you like the plan you have, you can keep it,” the president said. “If you like the doctor you have, you can keep your doctor, too. The only change you’ll see are falling costs as our reforms take hold.” (Helene Cooper, “Obama Urges Effort on Health Care,” The New York Times, June 7, 2009)

Now:

“Well, no, no, I mean -- when I say if you have your plan and you like it and your doctor has a plan, or you have a doctor and you like your doctor that you don't have to change plans, what I'm saying is the government is not going to make you change plans under health reform.” (President Obama's Remarks On Health Care During Press Conference, June 23, 2009)

President Obama tried to clarify those remarks this morning with an ABC News exclusive.

“’Whoa, whoa, whoa,’ said the president ‘But, of course, there, I mean, that's, that's the case whether we pass health care or not. I mean, the, look, the, the, the fact is that right now, all across the country, people are losing their health care. Every day. You, you can travel into Washington, D.C. And you'll find somebody on the street whose employer just dropped them from health care. Or who has decided to increase their deductibles. Or increase their premiums.’” (Jake Tapper, “More on the ‘If You Like Your Health Plan, You'll Keep Your Health Plan’ Promise,” ABC News.com, June 24, 2009)

That clear? Not really, but ABC sums it up nicely.
- “The president clarified that promise. It seems he wasn’t saying ‘no one’ will take away any American’s health insurance – he was saying the government wouldn’t. Which is not to say that the government wouldn’t create a situation where such a thing would happen.” (Jake Tapper, “What Does the President’s Promise ‘You'll Be Able to Keep Your Health Care Plan, Period,’ Really Mean?,” ABC News.com, June 23, 2009)