Aug 19, 2009 10:43 pm US/Central
Reality Check: Real Cost Of Obama's Health Plan
ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―
The numbers are staggering, almost too high to comprehend. A health care plan costing $1 trillion over 10 years. But can it really save Americans money, as the president claims?
For many families, the monthly health care premium can be among the largest bills they pay every month.
So it means something when the president says his health care plan could save people money.
"Coupled with comprehensive reform, this could result in our nation saving over $2 trillion over the next 10 years, and that could save families $2,500 in the coming years -- $2,500 per family," said
President Barack Obama on May 13.
That's very MISLEADING.
American families spend
an average of $2853 on health care every year. That includes health insurance, medical services and supplies, and drugs.
But it's not true you'll pay $2500 less if this health care bill passes.
IN FACT...
The president is not talking about cutting
your health care spending. He's talking about slowing down the growth of government health care spending.
And the non-partisan
Congressional Budget Office says the bills on the table right now
don't achieve those goals.
So here's what you NEED TO KNOW.
If the president gets all or most of what he wants, it is possible the cost of health care could go down over time.
But if it happens, it appears the cost savings would go to
government, not families.
That's Reality Check.
To check the resources for this Reality Check, click on the links below.
Statement By The President After Meeting With House Democratic Leadership
CBO: Letter About Budgetary Affects Of Health Care Proposal
CBO: Letter About Health Care Changes
U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics: 2007 Consumer Expenditures (PDF)
Health Care: Don't Forget Saving Families $2,500
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