WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Wednesday that if Congress ends up requiring individuals to buy health insurance, people who can’t afford it and small businesses should be exempt.
He also wants to slash an additional $200 billion to $300 billion from Medicare and Medicaid over 10 years — on top of $300 billion in cuts already proposed in his budget — to help pay for a sweeping health overhaul.
In a letter to senators Wednesday, he strongly reiterated his support for a new public health insurance plan to compete against private insurers.
The letter to Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairmen of the two committees writing health care bills, served as markers for what the president wants to see in final legislation.
The idea of what Obama called a "hardship waiver” for individual Americans splits the difference between where he was during the presidential campaign and where Congress may be heading.
Campaign stance
In the campaign, Obama did not support requiring everyone to buy insurance, putting him at odds with then Democratic rival Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Congress is looking at doing so.
The idea of a hardship waiver for people who can’t afford insurance is under consideration by Baucus’ Finance Committee, while Kennedy and House Democrats want to give subsidies to the poor to help them buy coverage.
The letter doesn’t address the issue of taxing health care benefits.
Obama opposed that in his campaign but Congress is now considering it.
by the associated press
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