President Barack Obama gave a strong speech Wednesday before a joint session of Congress, hoping to push forward healthcare reform and sway the minds of those who are doubtful of his plan to provide health coverage for all Americans.

Obama addressed the scare tactics and misinformation that have plagued the debate on reform, calling the idea of death panels a “lie, plain and simple.” He also shot down the claim that illegal aliens would be insured under the plan, calling it a simply “false,” and added that abortions would also not be paid for by federal dollars.

While Obama cited some important facts and figures, his argument would have been stronger if he had provided some support when refuting bogus claims.

For example, the alleged “death panels” were distorted from language in the House bill, which actually would have Medicare cover optional counseling on end-of-life care for any senior who requests it. This would allow any person to have a special consultation with their physician about what their options are if they were to become terminally ill or incapacitated, according to an article in Newsweek on Aug. 29.

Obama did say, although not in reference to illegal aliens, that the cost of health insurance continues to increase because the uninsured must be treated at a hospital emergency room whether they can pay or not ”“ as required by the Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act enacted by Congress in 1986. Those costs are passed on to people who do carry insurance, in the form of higher premiums or absorbed by hospitals.

Many Republicans are opposed to the public option, which Obama said would only be available to those without insurance, saying it would put insurance companies out of business. Obama said it would do no such thing, and rightly so, comparing it to the public and private system of higher education in the U.S., which provides a more affordable option, allowing many who could not afford a private college an avenue to continue their education. Private colleges continue to attract class after class of students ”“ as private insurers would continue to have millions of customers.

Some citizens don’t have any real options for affordable coverage because the cost of purchasing one’s own insurance is exorbitant or they have been dropped or denied coverage. That’s where the public option would fill a gap. Obama added that based on Congressional Budget Office estimates, fewer than 5 percent of Americans would sign up for a public option.

Furthermore, those who have insurance under the proposed House bill would not become one of those denied or dropped cases because the bill would not allow insurance companies to deny coverage based on a “pre-existing” condition or drop clients when they become sick, Obama said.

Obama broached the subject of cost, saying the $900 billion price tag over 10 years would be “less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans that Congress passed at the beginning of the previous administration.”

Adding that “the costs will be paid for with money already being spent ”“ but spent badly ”“ in the existing health care system ”¦ And if we are able to slow the growth of health care costs by just one-tenth of 1 percent each year, it will actually reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the long term.”

Although some additional facts may have strengthened Obama’s argument, we support his main point: The time for health care reform is now. Our legislators, both Democrats and Republicans, need to work together on a solution to the health care crisis by passing reforms that will allow every American access to health coverage and eliminate unnecessary spending and waste in the current system.

— Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen Schulze Muszynski or Nick Cowenhoven at 282-1535 or kristenm@journaltribune.com or nickc@journaltribune.com.