Hi, everybody. For decades, too many working Americans went without the security of health insurance-and their financial well-being1 suffered because of it.
We've begun to change that. As the Affordable2 Care Act has taken effect, we've covered 17. 6 million Americans. Since 2010, the uninsured rate has decreased by 45%. And for the first time, more than 90% of Americans are covered.
If you haven't gotten covered yet, or if you care about someone who hasn't gotten covered yet, now's your chance. It's open enrollment3 season for the Health Insurance Marketplace.
What that means is, with a few clicks on HealthCare. gov, you'll find private insurance companies competing for your business. You can compare plans and choose the one that's right for your family. In fact, most Americans will find an option that costs less than $75 a month. Even if you already have insurance through the Marketplace, check it out. Shopping around can save you a lot of money-last year, consumers who shopped saved almost $400.
Take the story of a man named Phil Viso, who emailed me earlier this year. Phil's a software developer from my hometown of Chicago. Last winter, he had an idea for a new app and decided4 to start his own company. And that can be scary when you need to get your own insurance. But Phil logged on to HealthCare. gov, answered a few questions, picked a plan, and even found out he was eligible5 for a tax credit that saved him money.
Here's what he wrote: "I'm still sort of in shock about how great the experience of signing up for health care was…I will have a lot to worry about over the course of the year as I try to get my app released, but thankfully, good health care will not be one of those worries."
After he sent me that email, Phil ended up getting a new and better job anyway. But that's the whole point of health insurance. Peace of mind. And under the Affordable Care Act, if you want to change jobs, go back to school, or chase that new idea, you can do it without worrying about going broke if you get sick. If you've got a pre-existing condition-diabetes or cancer or heartburn or a heart attack-you can no longer be charged more or denied coverage6. You can no longer be charged more just for being a woman. And preventive care like checkups and immunizations now come with no additional out-of-pocket costs.
What we're talking about is no longer just a law, and it's certainly not the myths and scare tactics that the cynics have peddled7 our way for years. This is reality. This is health care in America. And the bottom line is, Americans like it. They're happy with their plans and their premiums8.
So join them. Give it a shot. Check out HealthCare.gov, CuidadoDeSalud.gov, or call 1-800-318-2596 to find a plan that's right for you or someone you care about.
And by the way-if you live in one of the 20 cities participating in our Healthy Communities Challenge, I want to see how many of your neighbors you can get signed up. I'll come visit the city that enrolls9 the highest percentage of folks who aren't covered right now. That's a promise.
After all, this country is at its best when we look out for each other. And together, we can help more Americans get the security that they and their families deserve.
Thanks everybody. Have a great weekend.
1 well-being
n.安康，安樂，幸福
參考例句：
He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他總是把群眾的疾苦掛在心上。 My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我關(guān)心他們的幸福，卻被誤解為多管閑事。
2 affordable
adj.支付得起的，不太昂貴的
參考例句：
The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。 There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中沒有幾所公寓是便宜的。
3 enrollment
n.注冊或登記的人數(shù)；登記
參考例句：
You will be given a reading list at enrollment.注冊時你會收到一份閱讀書目。 I just got the enrollment notice from Fudan University.我剛剛接到復旦大學 的入學通知書。
4 decided
adj.決定了的，堅決的；明顯的，明確的
參考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.這使他們比對手具有明顯的優(yōu)勢。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英國人和中國人打招呼的方式有很明顯的區(qū)別。
5 eligible
adj.有條件被選中的；(尤指婚姻等)合適(意)的
參考例句：
He is an eligible young man.他是一個合格的年輕人。 Helen married an eligible bachelor.海倫嫁給了一個中意的單身漢。
6 coverage
n.報導，保險范圍，保險額，范圍，覆蓋
參考例句：
There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.報紙上幾乎沒有國外新聞報道。 This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.這是一項承保范圍廣泛的保險。
7 peddled
（沿街）叫賣( peddle的過去式和過去分詞 )； 兜售； 宣傳； 散播
參考例句：
He has peddled the myth that he is supporting the local population. 他散布說他支持當?shù)厝罕?。 The farmer peddled his fruit from house to house. 那個農(nóng)民挨家挨戶兜售他的水果。
8 premiums
n.費用( premium的名詞復數(shù) )；保險費；額外費用；（商品定價、貸款利息等以外的）加價
參考例句：
He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人壽保險費。 來自《現(xiàn)代英漢綜合大詞典》 Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 現(xiàn)正在醞釀提高汽車的保險費。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》
9 enrolls
v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的第三人稱單數(shù) )；登記，招收，使入伍（或入會、入學等），參加，成為成員；記入名冊；卷起，包起
參考例句：
Enrolls the newborn register of names to print afterward and to mail. 錄取新生名冊隨后打印并寄發(fā)。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng) The association enrolls 100, 000 members. 該協(xié)會擁有10萬名會員。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
學網(wǎng)站豎圖.jpg )
