President Obama Offers Fix To Millions Set To Lose Health Insurance
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- Under mounting pressure, the president announces changes to the Affordable Care Act. The move would allow extensions for people who were dropped by their plans.
But as Mary Bubala explains, it may not be that simple.
First he said he was sorry, now President Obama says the White House has a fix for nearly five million Americans set to lose their current health care.
"I said that I would do everything we can to fix this problem. And today, I'm offering an idea that will help do it," the president said Thursday.
The White House is giving insurance companies the option to keep offering plans that would have otherwise been canceled through 2014. Providers will also have to make clear what plans do not include and let consumers know what other new options are available in the federal exchanges.
"This fix won't solve every problem for every person," President Obama said. "But it's going to help a lot of people."
Obama took questions for nearly an hour, and took blame for the problems.
"We fumbled the roll-out on this health care law," he said.
But Republicans are pushing legislation to allow customers to keep their current plans -- permanently.
"The only way to fully protect the American people is to scrap this law once and for all," said Speaker of the House John Boehner.
The White House revealed Wednesday fewer than 27,000 people were able to enroll on the federal website.
In states like Maryland, who run their own health exchanges, the state insurance commissioner would make the decision on whether people can keep their policies.
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