Politics

Obama: ‘Many folks’ will lose their doctors under Obamacare

Vince Coglianese Editorial Director
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President Obama now says that his health law will lead the “average person” to switch doctors.

“For the average person,” Obama conceded in an interview with WebMD, “many folks who don’t have health insurance initially, they’re going to have to make some choices. And they might end up having to switch doctors, in part because they’re saving money.”

Obama’s admission stands in stark contrast to his many assurances that Obamacare would let people keep their doctors if they like them.
2009 White House document called “Health Insurance Reform Reality Check” insists, “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.”

And in a 2009 speech to the American Medical Association, Obama made this pledge: “[N]o matter how we reform health care, we will keep this promise: If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. Period. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan. Period. No one will take it away. No matter what. My view is that health care reform should be guided by a simple principle: fix what’s broken and build on what works.”

Politifact already considers Obama’s promise that Americans could keep their preferred health plans under Obamacare to be the “Lie of the Year.”

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