Obama: Despite Critics, ObamaCare ‘Worked out Better’ than Anticipated

“And so, after a century of talk, after decades of trying, after a year of sustained debate, we finally made health care reform a reality here in America. (Applause) And despite the constant doom-and-gloom predictions, the unending Chicken Little warnings that somehow making health insurance fairer and easier to buy would lead to the end of freedom, the end of the American way of life -- lo and behold, it did not happen. None of this came to pass. In fact, in a lot of ways, the Affordable Care Act worked out better than some of us anticipated. Nearly one in three uninsured Americans have already been covered -- more than 16 million people -- driving our uninsured rate to its lowest level ever. (Applause) Ever. On top of that, tens of millions more enjoy new protections with the coverage that they’ve already got. That 85 percent who had health insurance, they may not know that they’ve got a better deal now than they did, but they do. Americans can no longer be denied coverage because of preexisting conditions -- from you having had cancer to you having had a baby. Women can’t be charged more just for being a woman. (Applause) And they get free preventive services like mammograms. And there are no more annual or lifetime caps on the care patients receive. Medicare has been strengthened and protected. We’ve added 13 years to its actuarial life. The financial difference for business owners trying to invest and grow, and the families trying to save and spend -- that’s real, too.”