President Barack Obama promised that if you liked your health insurance plan, you could keep it. But today millions of people are finding out that’s not true.
With Obamacare websites still not working properly, the administration is giving people extra time to sign up for new insurance plans; a grace period for Americans to sign up.
On Monday, the White House granted a six-week extension, pushing the deadline for uninsured Americans to sign up for coverage until March 31.
But lawmakers from both parties say that’s not enough. Republicans and even some Democrats are calling for a one-year delay in penalties Americans will face if they remain uninsured.
On Tuesday, Medicare Chief Marilyn Tavenner appeared before a House committee to apologize.
“We have said publicly that we will have the website in good working order by the end of November,” she promised.
But Texas Republican Kevin Brady reminded Tavenner that the White House has had “nearly four years to get it ready.”
“And now you’re saying that in four weeks more it will be great,” he continued. “So what’s different? Why should anyone believe these claims?”
Democrats like New York Rep. Charles Rangel believe Americans want Obamacare, and he taunted Republicans for daring to oppose it.
“How can we improve and get quality health care for all Americans? This has to be a part of the goal that all of you (Republicans ) have,” he said.
Meanwhile, a new report by NBC News revealed that President Obama knew ahead of time that millions of Americans would lose their current insurance coverage.
Today on the floor of the House, Republicans like Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., a doctor, were teeing off.
“The Obamacare train wreck continues. In 2009 President Obama promised that if you liked your health care plan, you could keep it. It still promises that on the White House website, and on the HealthCare.gov website, if and when you can get on that website,” Harris said.
“People across the nation are experiencing sticker shock as they receive cancellation letters from their insurers,” Rep. Luke Messer, R-Ind., added.
Estimates of how many people could lose health insurance range from 7 million to 16 million.
On Wednesday the public face of Obamacare, Heath and Human Services Director Kathleen Sebelius, will finally testify before Congress about the roll-out debacle of the Affordable Care Act.
