Obama Revises Promise: "Vast Majority," But Not All, Can Keep Health Plans

President Barack Obama has revised his promise to Americans that they could keep their old health plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, according to a report from The Hill.

During a speech in Boston yesterday, he said the "vast majority" of people — but not everyone — will be able to keep their old health insurance coverage under the reform law, according to the report.

Republicans such as House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) have criticized the president for misleading the American people by saying the law wouldn't make them change insurance. On Wednesday, President Obama countered that relatively few people would be forced off their plans and accused his detractors of "grossly misleading" the public, according to the report.

Many insurers are sending out cancellation letters to people enrolled in health plans that don't meet requirements for basic levels of coverage under the healthcare reform law. Under the reform law, individual health plans must cover "essential benefits" such as prescription drugs, mental health services and maternity care. Insurers must also cap consumers' annual expenses.

Various insurers are dropping plans that cover sizeable chunks of their individual markets. Florida Blue is ending about 300,000 policies, 80 percent of its individual policies in the state. Kaiser Permanente in California has sent cancellation notices to approximately 160,000 people who make up half of its individual business in the state.

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