Obama 'Sorry' Some People Losing Health Coverage

Website repairs continue amid continued scrutiny of Affordable Care Act

FRIDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama said he's "sorry" some Americans are losing their insurance coverage as a result of his signature health-reform law, but his administration is pressing ahead with the law's implementation. It's estimated that 5 percent of Americans have individual health insurance policies, and many of these people are receiving cancellation notices as insurers switch to plans that comply with new health-reform requirements.

Starting in 2014, the Affordable Care Act is intended to help 30 million people get health insurance. It is also designed to protect all Americans from abusive health insurance practices, like being dropped from coverage due to pre-existing health conditions. Under the law, most Americans must have health insurance coverage or pay federal tax penalties.

The administration insists that the federal health insurance website, HealthCare.gov, will be "running smoothly" for a majority of Americans by Nov. 30. But nearly six weeks after its Oct. 1 launch, fixes to the website continue day and night, the administration reported. And the health-reform law continues to face intense scrutiny, including health policy cancellations, continuing snafus with HealthCare.gov, and concerns about data security.

Asked about his promise that people who like their health-care coverage can keep it, Obama on Thursday told NBC News: "I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me. We've got to work hard to make sure that they know we hear them and we are going to do everything we can to deal with folks who find themselves in a tough position as a consequence of this."

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