Obama Breaks Health Care Pledge… Before He Makes It

Everyone expects politicians to break their promises, but Barack Obama may have set a record yesterday by breaking one before he made it.

In his speech before the American Medical Association’s annual meeting in Chicago Monday, President Obama pledged:

…no matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise to the American people: 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.

But Obama had previously unveiled a plan that would do just that: take health care plans away from millions of Americans who want to keep them.

In his 2010 budget, Obama calls for cutting federal outlays for Medicare Advantage plans by more than $175 billion over ten years. If he prevails, millions of seniors would face higher premiums, higher co-payments and reduced benefits.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the change would result in a decline in Medicare Advantage enrollment of seven million senior citizens.

A promise to the American people?

I guess it depends on what your definition of American people is.

This post was written by National Center for Public Policy Research Vice President David Ridenour. Write him at [email protected]. Please state if a letter is not for publication or if you prefer that it be published anonymously.

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