WASHINGTON – Former President Barack Obama returned to the White House on Tuesday to celebrate the findings of the Affordable Care Act and to support President Joe Biden’s efforts to strengthen the 2010 health care bill.
At the same time, Obama also reminded Americans of a lesson he learned during his presidency: governance is harder than it first looks.
Obama’s visit is his first visit to the White House since he stepped down in January 2017, a time when the existence of an Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” was in doubt. Donald Trump just became president, Republicans took full control of Congress, and repeal was literally at the forefront of their agenda.
That attempt failed and, now, the Affordable Care Act is more politically safer than ever, with polls continuing to show majority support and Republicans increasingly reluctant to talk about repeal. Meanwhile, the number of uninsured Americans is at its lowest, as Obama was quick to point out in his statements.
“Nothing makes me more proud of providing better health care and more protection to millions of people across the country,” Obama said.
Obama is well aware of the limitations and shortcomings of the law, particularly the fact that so many Americans remain uninsured or face high premiums and out -of -pocket costs.
“Even today, some patients still pay too much for their prescriptions,” Obama said. “Some poor Americans haven’t disintegrated yet … Some working families are still having a hard time paying for their coverage.”
But Obama attributed these failures to the compromises needed to pass the aid bill available to Congress. He called the health law “home of departure”, as he has repeatedly said, and said the challenge now is to continue improving it.
The Biden administration, working with Democratic leaders in Congress, has tried to do that, in part by passing legislation that would permanently increase financial assistance to people who buy private insurance through HealthCare.gov and other online exchange.
This additional assistance is part of federal assistance to COVID-19, which was launched as part of the American Rescue Plan and will expire later this year.
It has made a huge difference, reducing the premiums of several million people to hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars a year. Democratic legislation extending such assistance and closing low premiums is now on hold in Congress as Democratic leaders seek to negotiate with West Virginia’s lone Senate Democrat Joe Manchin.
Biden, who spoke at the post-Obama event, called on Congress to accept the proposal, reminding the public of the many Republican attempts to repeal it. “Instead of destroying the help that is available, we continue to work on it.”
The open question is whether Biden and his allies can force Mancini to sign a compromise. But, Obama said, Biden is also using the executive branch to do his best to improve the law independently, while Congress is pending.
Obama specifically cited the policy initiative presented by the administration Tuesday morning: a new regulatory proposal that would change the Affordable Care Act’s rules on who can receive subsidized insurance through the exchange.
The Biden administration estimates that the change, referred to by policy experts as a “family shortage,” could help 200,000 Americans get insurance and help cover another million with lower premiums.
The White House ceremony was scheduled for the Rose Garden, but moved to the building due to prolonged rain. The result is the East Room, filled with current and former Democratic members of Congress, as well as officials from the Biden and Obama administrations.
Face masks are rare because the invited guests come together, while the string version of “As Time Passes” is included in the sound system.
Hundreds of Democrats and health activists showed that their worship of the 44th president remained unchanged when he received greetings from Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Apparently, goodwill also hit his former vice president, who was greeted with a standing ovation from the audience as he stepped onto the podium.
During the clash after the official statements, Obama raised the question of how Democrats should prepare for the by-election, as the polls could suffer huge losses.
“We have something to say, we just have to tell you,” he replied.
There was also a moment in the event when Obama made some changes in the White House after the Bidens moved on.
“Secret Service agents are now required to wear aviator goggles. The Navy has been replaced by Baskin -Robbins, “Obama said with a laugh.” Cats running around – Bo and Sun are going to be very sad. “
Biden, in his statements, recalled his collaboration with Obama – and the work the president did to pass the law, even if its enactment seemed unbelievable.
“Many have called it the Affordable Care Act,” Biden said. “But ‘Obamacare’ is the most appropriate.”
Biden also joked about one of his most famous moments as Vice President at the Affordable Care Act signing ceremony, when he was caught by the microphone whispering to Obama that the law was a “horrible big deal.”
“I want to sign an executive order today,” Biden said, citing a new executive action to strengthen health care legislation. “And Barak, let me remind you it’s a hot microphone.”
Source: Huffpost
