Health-Care Reform Will Save Economy, Too: Obama

He pushes reform during town hall meeting

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Jul 1, 2009 3:47 PM CDT

(Newser) – Americans will suffer doubly without immediate health-care reform because the economy needs the boost, President Obama said in a town-hall meeting today as he tried to sell a plan half of Americans say they don’t really understand. He cited rising premiums, less employer coverage, and increasing Medicare costs as factors in the urgent situation, and warned that matters will worsen without action, the Chicago Tribune reports.

"If we let this moment pass—we could see this economy sputter along for years, if not decades," Obama said. "I know that people say the cost of fixing our problems is great, but I can assure you—we have reached a point where the cost of doing nothing is far greater."

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Obama speaks about health care during the town hall meeting in Virginia today. (AP Photo)

Debby Smith, 53, from Appalachia, Va., asks President Barack Obama about her health care during today's town hall meeting. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Health-Care Reform Will Save Economy, Too: Obama