Thursday, September 2, 2010

Rhetoric vs. Reality: Health Insurance Premiums

This morning’s release of the Kaiser Family Foundation survey indicates that health insurance premiums have once again risen for individuals and families.  But two years ago, candidate Obama promised that his health reform plan would LOWER premiums by $2,500 per year for family coverage.

President Obama might have forgotten about this pledge, as he signed legislation that according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office would raise premiums for individual health insurance by $2,100 per year.  The authors of this morning’s Kaiser study also agree that the new law will not lower premiums, writing in a companion Health Affairs article that it is “unlikely…to change the larger dynamics shaping the market for employer-provided coverage.  Delivery system reforms…will need at least several years before they have a meaningful impact on the premiums that employers and employees pay.”

For the American people struggling to afford health insurance coverage, these words fall far short of the rhetoric candidate Obama promised on the campaign trail.  We have compiled a list of quotes from then-Senator Obama specifically promising a $2,500 premium reduction – which both the CBO and this morning’s study confirmed will not materialize, as premiums will continue to increase.  If you’re interested, video of several of these speeches can be found here.  Special thanks to crack researcher Shane Scanlon for the quotes below.

Today’s Reality:

Campaign Rhetoric:

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama

Asheville, NC

October 5, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/10/05/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_128.php

We’ll start by lowering premiums by as much as $2,500 per family – and we’ll do it by taking the following five steps to lower costs throughout our health care system.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Health Care

Newport News, VA

October 4, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/10/04/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_129.php

We’ll start by reducing premiums by as much as $2,500 per family – and we’ll do it by taking the following five steps to lower costs throughout our health care system.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Urban League

Orlando, FL

August 2, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/08/02/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_101.php

“That’s why, when I’m President, we’ll bring down health care costs by $2,500 for the typical family and prevent insurance companies from discriminating against those who need care most.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: An Agenda for Middle-Class Success

St. Louis, MO

July 7, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/07/07/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_87.php

“I’ll also help families who are struggling under the crushing burden of health care costs by passing a plan that brings the typical family’s premiums down by $2500 and guarantees coverage to everyone who wants it.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Change That Works for You

Raleigh, NC

June 9, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/06/09/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_76.php

“When I am President, we’ll take a different approach. We will give every American the chance to get the same kind of health care that Members of Congress give themselves. We’ll bring down premiums by $2500 for the typical family, and we’ll prevent insurance companies from discriminating against those who need care most.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Macomb Community College

Warren, MI

May 14, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/05/14/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_66.php

“That’s why unlike John McCain, I have a universal health care plan. It’s a plan that will cut health care costs by up to $2500 per family per year and reduce costs for business and their workers by picking up the tab for some of the most expensive illnesses and conditions.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Keeping America’s Promise

Janesville, WI

February 13, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/13/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_50.php

My universal health care plan brings down the cost of health care more than any other candidate in this race, and will save the typical family up to $2500 a year on their premiums.

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Virginia Jefferson-Jackson Dinner

Richmond, VA

February 9, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/09/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_47.php

My plan would bring down premiums for the typical family by $2500 a year. We’d ban insurance companies from denying you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. We’d allow every American to get the same kind of health care that members of Congress get for themselves.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: The Past Versus the Future

Denver, CO

January 30, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/01/30/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_45.php

“I know that the reason Americans don’t have health care isn’t because no one is forcing them to buy it – it’s because they can’t afford it. That’s why my plan cuts costs by up to $2500 for a typical family, and makes health care available and affordable for every single American. That’s the plan that I’ll pass in my first term as President.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Reclaiming the American Dream

El Dorado, KS

January 29, 2008

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/01/29/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_44.php

“And when I’m President, we’ll finally pass a universal health care plan that will make sure every single American can get the same kind of health care that members of Congress get for themselves. My plan does more to cut costs than any other plan in this race – up to $2500 for a typical family. And we won’t pass it twenty years from now, not ten years from now – we’ll pass health care by the end of my first term in office.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: A Change We Can Believe In

Spartanburg, SC

November 3, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/11/03/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_30.php

“That’s how I’ll pass a universal health care bill that allows every American to get the same kind of health care that members of Congress get for themselves and cuts every family’s premiums by up to $2500. And mark my words – I will sign this bill by the end of my first term as President. That’s the change we can offer in 2008.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama at Labor Day Rally

Manchester, NH

September 3, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/09/03/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_22.php

“When I am President, we will have universal health care in this country by the end of my first term in office. It’s a plan that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family’s premiums by $2500 a year.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama College Democrats of America

Columbia, SC

July 26, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/07/26/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_20.php

“I have a universal health care plan that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family’s premiums by up to $2500 a year.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama to the National Council of La Raza

Miami, FL

July 22, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/07/22/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_21.php

“I have a universal health care plan that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family’s premiums by up to $2500 a year. It’s a plan that lets the uninsured buy insurance that’s similar to the kind members of Congress give themselves. If you can’t afford that, you’ll get a subsidy to pay for it.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Changing the Odds for Urban America

Washington D.C.

July 18, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/07/18/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_19.php

“And I’ll finally make sure every American has affordable health care that stays with you no matter what happens by passing my plan to provide universal coverage and cut the cost of health care by up to $2500 per family.”

A Politics of Conscience

Hartford, CT

June 23, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/06/23/a_politics_of_conscience_1.php

“Our conscience cannot rest so long as nearly 45 million Americans don’t have health insurance and the millions more who do are going bankrupt trying to pay for it. I have made a solemn pledge that I will sign a universal health care bill into law by the end of my first term as president that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family’s premiums by up to $2500 a year. That’s not simply a matter of policy or ideology – it’s a moral commitment.”

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama: Take Back America 2007

Washington D.C.

June 19, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/06/19/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_16.php

“I have a universal health care plan that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family’s premiums by up to $2500 a year. It’s a plan that lets the uninsured buy insurance that’s similar to the kind members of Congress give themselves.”

Cutting Costs and Covering America: A 21st Century Health Care System

University of Iowa

May 29, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/2007/05/29/cutting_costs_and_covering_ame.php

“Today I want to lay out the details of that plan – a plan that not only guarantees coverage for every American, but also brings down the cost of health care and reduces every family’s premiums by as much as $2500. This second part is important because, in the end, coverage without cost containment will only shift our burdens, not relieve them.”