President Barack Obama says America can no longer live with the status quo when it comes to healthcare.
In his fourth prime time TV press conference Wednesday night from the White House, he said he would like to see a bill pushed through as early as this summer, but won't sign a bill that puts the majority of the burden on the middle class.
As Capitol Hill debates healthcare reform, the president has been pouring on his endorsement for change, making almost daily speeches to educate the nation on what his reform plan would hold and pushing for public support.
He also said his bill will be paid for in advance. "I won't add to the deficit – and I mean it," he said.
Obama and the Democrats have said two-thirds of the cost of the proposed healthcare overhaul would come from eliminating wasteful and fraudulent use of taxpayer dollars. Where to get the remaining third is still up for debate, with Obama recommending limiting tax deductions for the wealthiest Americans to match what middle class Americans can deduct. He said he isn't sure if Congress will follow his advice, and the House is currently considering taxing Americans who jointly earn more than $1 million a year.
Obama's plan would cover up to 98 percent of Americans and eliminate pre-existing conditions as a way for insurance companies to decline coverage.
The president said change must come, and it will involve the use of healthcare IT to eliminate duplicate testing, prevent medical errors, help monitor chronic care, encourage preventive care and help doctors know what care is most effective. Without these changes, he said, the nation will maintain a status quo that will bankrupt more families.
"Currently, 14 million Americans lose their health insurance every day," Obama said. "This is about Americans who don't have healthcare, and this is about every American who has ever worried about losing healthcare."
Obama rebuffed recent attacks from Republicans focused on his proposals. "This isn't about me. I have excellent healthcare, as do all the members of Congress. This is about the American people," he said.
He also said his plan would provide a public plan to compete with the private insurance industry, helping to drive innovative market solutions to lowering costs. And he said he is pushing to give the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, an independent advisory panel to Congress, more clout by requiring a Congressional vote on its annual recommendations.