Washington, April 1, 2014: President Obama announced at the White House that 7.1 million Americans had signed up for health care through the federal and state exchanges set up by the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, joined guests in rose garden ceremony at the White House, applauding the success of the health care sign up.
Speaking in the sun-filled Rose Garden, Obama introduced the progress made in fixing the website and getting millions enrolled in health insurance plans under Obamacare.
"This law is doing what it's supposed to do," Obama said at the Rose Garden. "It's working. It's helping people from coast to coast."
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| Dr. Rajwant Singh with Valerie Jarrett, top political advisor to President Obama at the White House |
Dr. Rajwant Singh said, “We appreciate the leadership of President Obama for navigating a very difficult process of getting the nation to this point where health care will be available to the most vulnerable and the uninsured. Although this law still needs improvement but it is a step in the right direction. As a faith community, it is important to see that communities we serve stay healthy, stay well, and thrive. Sikh faith emphasizes that those in need in the society are helped so it is natural that we support this law.”
He added, “We made announcements in the Gurdwaras and also appealed to all Sikh organizations to spread the word about the sign up deadline and in addition, we provided guidance for people to sign up. We are thankful to all the staffers at the White House and at the Hill who made the health care act the law of the land.”
Seven million was the White House's initial projection as the law was being introduced in the nation. The HealthCare.gov website became a source of delays and confusion when it was rolled out in October for those trying to sign up for health insurance under the ACA.
During his speech, Obama acknowledged that the law wasn't perfect and that the rollout wasn't perfect, but the first six months are "a step forward.
"Bottom line is this: Under this law the share of Americans with insurance is down" and the growth of the cost of health care is down, Obama said.
He went on to deliver an impassioned defense of his signature legislation, saying Obamacare has made health care in the United States better and it had affirmed the "dignity and worth" of millions of Americans.
"That's what the Affordable Care Act is all about," Obama said, "making sure that all of us... can count on the security of health care when we get sick."
Responding to continued efforts by Republicans to oppose the law. “The debate over repealing this law is over,” the president said, to a standing ovation from a crowd filled with representatives of groups who helped with enrollment and outreach effort, as well as administration employees involved with implementing the law. “The Affordable Care Act is here to stay.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Vice President Joe Biden, and many members of the congress were among those on hand to mark the occasion.
Obama said the 7.1 million Americans who signed up for coverage, as well as the millions more who are now covered because of other ACA measures, including the Medicaid expansion, have endorsed the law.
The pace of enrollments jumped up as the open enrollment deadline of March 31 approached. Some Americans faced fines if they did not sign up for insurance. White House reported that 200,000 people signed up Monday, bringing the total number of enrollees to 7.04 million by midnight last night.
The law has been under attack by the Republicans since its inception but senior administration officials are confident that the law will increase in popularity as it becomes part of the social safety net.
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| Dr. Rajwant Singh with Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the White House during the Rose Garden ceremony at the White House |