Obama visiting Raleigh to discuss health care plans

Raleigh, N.C. — The heated debate over health care reform will take center stage in Raleigh Wednesday as President Barack Obama visits the Capital City to tout his controversial health care reform plan.

Obama will hold a town hall meeting about health care beginning at 11:45 a.m. at Broughton High School's gymnasium at 723 Saint Mary's St.

WRAL-TV and WRAL.com will carry the president's visit LIVE. Watch the video online, and interact with others via a live chat.

School officials said the secret service did a security sweep of the school Tuesday, and will not be allowing anyone inside the building until shortly before Obama arrives.

Tickets were available free to the public, but the deadline for requesting one has passed.

A new government insurance program would compete with private insurers, and insurance companies would be barred from excluding people with pre-existing conditions. The goals are to hold down costs and extend coverage to most of the 50 million uninsured Americans. The price tag: $1 trillion-plus over a decade.

Obama has called on Congress to approve the plan before it recesses the first week in August. Both House and Senate leaders have said that likely won't happen.

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Latest Comments

President Obama knows what he is doing. He is a very smart and intelligent man. That's why He is president and YOU are not. Matter of fact, you would not be qualified. lol lol lol

Professor
July 29, 2009 12:28 p.m.

"How would the President actually find any meaningful cost savings without capping malpractise awards and eliminating abuse/fraud by illegal immigrants?"

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Good luck to ask this question !!!

ncblue2
July 29, 2009 10:55 a.m.

This is just something else for the ones already abusing the system!!!

2muchdrama4me
July 29, 2009 10:51 a.m.

"I am one of the fortunate ones who has a ticket to go tomorrow morning. I'm curious for those who have read the bill what specific concerns you have. I really hope to get to ask a question and want to be well-prepared to do so in the event I do. jet2rdu, I believe you said you read it and it is scary - can you provide any specifics? Or anyone else?"

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Here is the one question I'd love for someone to ask but they'd never be allowed to:

"How is it possible for private insurers to compete on a level playing field with an entity that can print/borrow all of the money it wishes, undercut any insurer on premiums, and already enforces a reimbursement model in Medicare/Medicaid that doesn't cover the actual cost of procedures/services?"

Another one:

"How would the President actually find any meaningful cost savings without capping malpractise awards and eliminating abuse/fraud by illegal immigrants?"

I'd love those answers...won't ever get them, though.

NeverSurrender
July 29, 2009 9:23 a.m.

Of the 50 or 60 people I have met from countries with government ran Health Care Programs not one of them thought their care could touch the Health Care Program we already have in place in America.

prn13norm
July 28, 2009 7:40 p.m.