Obama explains what he wants and doesn't want in his health care plan

In a speech earlier today at a town hall meeting in Raleigh, N.C., President Obama made it absolutely clear what he wants and doesn't want in his health care reform package:


“Nobody is talking about some government takeover of health care. I’ve been as clear as I can be, under the reform I’ve proposed, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan. These folks (those opposing his reform ideas) need to stop scaring everybody.


“No one in America should go broke because of illness. We will require insurance companies to cover routine checkups and preventive care, like mammograms, colonoscopies, or eye and foot exams for diabetics, so we can avoid chronic illnesses that cost not only lives, but money. No longer will insurance companies be allowed to drop or water down coverage for someone who has become seriously ill. That’s not right and it’s not fair.”

Here are some of the safeguards he promised would be included in legislation he wants:

• No discrimination for pre-existing conditions
• No exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses
• No cost-sharing for preventive care
• No dropping of coverage for serious illness
• No gender discrimination
• No annual or lifetime caps
• Extended coverage for young adults
• Guaranteed insurance renewal.

I know, I know, the devil is in the details, but as broad outlines go, no one who considers himself a humanitarian can argue with these statements.