“This is healthcare in America today,” he said in his weekly address.
“[It is] affordable, portable security for you and your loved ones. It’s making a difference for millions of Americans every day [and] it is only going to get better.”
Obama boasted that ObamaCare is expanding healthcare options for everyday Americans.
“As the Affordable Care Act has taken effect, nearly 18 million Americans have gained coverage,” he said.
“In fact, for the first time ever, more than 90 percent of Americans are covered [and] up to 129 million Americans with preexisting conditions can no longer be denied coverage or be charged more just because they’ve been sick,” Obama continued.
He noted that 137 million Americans with private insurance are now guaranteed preventive care coverage.
“We’ve done all this while cutting our deficits and keeping healthcare inflation to its lowest level in 50 years,” the president said. “And we’ve begun filling the gaps in employer-based care so that when we change jobs, lose a job, go back to school, or start that new business, we can still get coverage.”
Obama urged those with health insurance plans outside of ObamaCare to review their coverage choices.
“Even if you already have insurance, take a few minutes to shop around,” he said. “Most folks buying a plan on the marketplace can find an option that costs less than $75 a month. In fact, consumers who switched to a new plan for 2016 ended up saving an average of more than $500.”
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported Thursday that about 83 percent of ObamaCare enrollees pay less than $408 because of tax credits from the law.
The average tax credit for 2016 is $294.
The average ObamaCare premium is up 9 percent from this time last year, the agency also found.