President Barack Obama on Monday said the US Senate’s approval for the landmark health care bill to extend the insurance coverage is a big victory for the people of America.
“The United States Senate knocked down a filibuster aimed at blocking a final vote on health care reform, and scored a big victory for the American people,” Mr. Obama said in his first reaction, hours after the US Senate voted 60-40 to advance a massive USD 871 billion bill to extend coverage to nearly all Americans and tighten the regulations on the private insurers.
“By standing up to the special interests -- who’ve prevented reform for decades and who are furiously lobbying against it now -- the Senate has moved us closer to reform that makes a tremendous difference for families, for seniors, for businesses, and for the country as a whole,” Mr. Obama said.
The health care bill, which has been passed by the House of Representatives earlier, is now expected to be passed by the US Senate on Christmas eve.
On one of the first procedural votes early this morning, all the 58 Democrats and two independents voted for the bill, while all the 40 Republicans against it.
“For those who have insurance, reform will mean greater security and stability. No longer will people with pre-existing conditions be excluded from coverage,” he said.
Mr. Obama said under the provisions of the bill, seriously ill people will no longer be dropped from coverage.
“No longer will families be allowed to go broke because they’re forced to pay exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses,” Mr. Obama said.
Mr. Obama said provisions of the Patient’s Bill of Rights that could not become an Act, are also embedded in the bill.
“Well, you know what, the Patient’s Bill of Rights is embedded in this health care bill and -- to make sure that all Americans who have insurance right now are getting a fair deal from their insurance companies,” Mr. Obama said.
