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Obama touts health care law success stories as lawmakers vote on repeal

By Anita Kumar - McClatchy Washington Bureau

February 03, 2015 09:04 AM

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a event to promote a new health care program by approving $215 million for a Precision Medicine Initiative designed to help doctors tailor treatments to the individual characteristics of their patients in the East Room of the White House Jan. 30, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a event to promote a new health care program by approving $215 million for a Precision Medicine Initiative designed to help doctors tailor treatments to the individual characteristics of their patients in the East Room of the White House Jan. 30, 2015 in Washington, D.C. TNS
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a event to promote a new health care program by approving $215 million for a Precision Medicine Initiative designed to help doctors tailor treatments to the individual characteristics of their patients in the East Room of the White House Jan. 30, 2015 in Washington, D.C. TNS

President Barack Obama is looking to show off support of the federal health care law with an event today at the White House with 10 Americans from across the nation.

Obama will meet Tuesday with 10 people who wrote him letters about how they benefited from the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare.

“From being able to get critical medication to finding affordable coverage to getting needed preventive care, their stories highlight the sweeping improvements made to our health care system—and how the law is working to help Americans get the care they need,” a White House official said.

Republicans on Capitol Hill are trying once again to repeal the law now that they control both chambers of Congress. The House is expected to vote today. Obama threatened to veto that bill Monday.

Open enrollment through insurance exchanges closes on Feb. 15 for 2015 during the second year the exchanges are open.

Ten million people gained health insurance in 2014, according to the White House. In the first two months of 2015 open enrollment, 9.5 million Americans have selected or were automatically reenrolled in coverage through marketplaces while others gained coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Here’s the full list of letter writers:

· Derrick Benn- San Francisco, CA

· Dr. Susanne Choby- Morgantown, WV

· Ann Chrisman- Westport, CT

· Tonya Fisher- Dallas, TX

· Lynnette Jackson- Hyattsville, MD

· Don Kuk- Phoenix, AZ

· Regina Moran- Philadelphia, PA

· Naomi Rosan- Roberta, GA

· Maria Villavicencio- Fairfax, VA

· Darlene Whitted- Cary, NC

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