Barack in Asheville, NC: "Putting the health of our families before the profits of our insurance companies"

October 5, 2008

Barack spoke to residents of Asheville, North Carolina this afternoon about the need to continue focusing on the issues over the next 30 days. One issue that Barack wants to continue talking about is health care. He specifically told the crowd about the dangers of John McCain’s out of touch health care plan.

Now I know that at this moment, when we stand in the midst of a serious economic crisis, some might ask how we can afford to focus on health care. Major financial institutions have collapsed. Families across America are struggling. And it’s clear that the rescue package we just passed in Congress isn’t the end of what we need to do to fix our economy – it’s just the beginning. Because contrary to what Senator McCain says, the fundamentals of our economy are still not strong. And we’ve got to address those fundamentals right now.

In other words, the question isn’t how we can afford to focus on health care – but how we can afford not to. Because in order to fix our economic crisis, we need to fix our health care system too. Let’s not forget, it’s not just small businesses and families who are suffering. Some of the largest corporations in America – including major American car makers – are fighting to compete because of high health care costs. They’re watching their foreign competitors prosper – unburdened by these costs – as they struggle to create the good jobs we need to get our economy back on track.

…And you’d think that anyone running for president would understand this. You’d think any candidate for the highest office in the land would have a plan to achieve these critically important goals. Well, if you think that, you haven’t met my opponent, Senator John McCain.

Now, it’s not that he doesn’t care about what people are going through. I just think he doesn’t know. That’s the only reason I can think of that he’d propose a health care plan that is so radical, so out of touch with what you’re facing, and so out of line with our basic values.

…Right now, different states have different rules about what insurance companies have to cover. Senator McCain will let companies avoid these rules. He’ll let them cherry pick the state where they’re based – and sell plans anywhere in America.

It’s the starting gun for a race to the bottom. Insurance companies will rush to set up shop in states with the fewest protections for patients – states where they don’t have to cover things like mammograms, vaccinations and maternity care.

Now what does this mean for folks here in North Carolina? Well, this state requires insurance companies to cover mental health care, cancer screening, contraception, treatment for alcoholism and more. And here in North Carolina, you have the right to appeal when your HMO refuses to cover the treatment you need.

Under John McCain’s plan, insurance companies wouldn’t have to follow any of these rules. These are commonsense protections to make sure that you and your doctor – not insurance company bureaucrats – are making decisions about your health. And John McCain wants to let insurance companies go around them.

So while Senator McCain talks a lot about preserving states’ rights – when it comes down to it, his plan is all about protecting insurance companies’ rights. Well, I think it’s time we started putting the health of our families before the profits of our insurance companies – and that’s what I’m going to do as President.

Read Barack’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery…

Barack in Asheville, NC: "Putting the health of our families before the profits of our insurance companies"