Thousands protest as Obama defends health plan

Barack Obama had hoped his high-stakes speech to Congress on Wednesday on US healthcare reform would dispel public scepticism.

But many Americans remain to be convinced, and thousands converged on Washington’s Capitol building to protest at the president’s proposals. In his weekly address today, Obama warned nearly half of all US citizens under 65 could, at some point in the next decade, lose their healthcare coverage. “I refuse to allow that future to happen,” Obama said. “In the USA, no-one should have to worry that they will go without health insurance – not for one year, not for one month, not for one day. Once I sign my health reform plan into law, they won’t.” Obama says his plan for a government-run insurance programme would provide affordable coverage for 30 million Americans who are currently uninsured.More about: Barack Obama, Health reform, Protest, USA

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