'A lifeline for many': Internet supports Affordable Care Act as Obama and Biden reunite for promotion

WASHINGTON, DC: President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama have collaborated on a new video, pledging to safeguard and broaden the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare.

This comes at a time when former President Donald Trump has threatened to renew his efforts to repeal the healthcare law if he wins a second term.

The White House released the video on social media on Friday, December 15, as part of its endeavor to promote open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act exchanges, according to a White House official who spoke with CNN.

What does the video featuring the former and current POTUS entail?

The video, which was shared with CNN, features Biden reading a text message that inquires, "Hey President Biden, is Obamacare still a thing?" Biden then turns to Obama and asks, "Is it still a thing?"

 

Obama responds, "Yes, Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, Bidencare, whatever you call it – yes, it is still a thing. The other side’s been trying to repeal it every year since it’s existed, but we’ll keep fighting to protect it.”

Biden chimes in, “Not just protect it but expand it, saving millions of dollars for working families. We’re covering more people than ever.”

The President concludes the video by saying, It’s still a BFD,” which is a reference to his hot-mic expletive moment celebrating Obamacare's passage in 2010.

The recently filmed video featuring Obama's undisclosed visit to the White House comes at a time when the deadline to enroll in Obamacare plans to receive coverage at the start of the year has arrived.

The open enrollment period for this year commenced on November 1, 2023, and will continue until January 15, 2024, on the federal exchange, Healthcare.gov.

During the first five weeks, almost 7.3 million people have signed up for 2024 coverage, which is an increase of almost 34% from the same period last year.

 

The Biden-Obama alliance is in line with the White House and Biden campaign's eagerness to bring the healthcare debate to the forefront leading up to the 2024 election.

Although Trump's name is not mentioned in the new video, it comes in the wake of his recent attempt to revive talks of repealing and replacing Obamacare.

Trump's move even surprised some of his advisors as the law has gained popularity in recent years following multiple failed Republican attempts to scrap it.

The latest video marks the most recent effort by Biden to leverage his former boss and partner to help make a healthcare push.

What's the reason behind Barack Obama dropping in at the White House?

Obama's first public appearance at the White House since leaving the presidency came last year when he joined Biden to promote bolstering Obamacare by closing a loophole that prevented millions of families from receiving subsidies.

 

The former president has also shot videos celebrating record enrollment and the anniversary of his signature healthcare law.

He reportedly taped videos, often poking fun at himself, while in office and during Trump's tenure, encouraging Americans to sign up during open enrollment.

In its fundraising efforts, the Biden campaign team has also tapped into Obama's appeal, releasing joint videos and sponsoring contests for small-dollar donors to meet the two men.

Reducing healthcare costs, including prescription drugs, and expanding coverage are expected to be key features of Biden's 2024 bid for re-election.

 

Biden frequently highlights how he and congressional Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which gave Medicare the ability to negotiate some drug prices for the first time and cut the cost of insulin for Medicare enrollees.

On Thursday, he pushed an additional bill provision that would require drug companies to pay a rebate to Medicare if their costs increased faster than inflation.

"It's a rip off. They're ripping off Medicare. They're ripping off the American people, but we're now fighting back," Biden said at the National Institutes of Health.

The 81-year-old added, "We're going to save taxpayers money and discourage companies from raising prices in the first place."

Last week, the Biden administration also made several gradual initiatives to reduce healthcare prices by encouraging competition.

However, according to a recent KFF study, few Americans are aware of the provisions that Biden frequently touts, showing one of the obstacles that the sitting president faces is in convincing Americans that his policies are in fact, beneficial to them.

Internet reacts to the former POTUS coming back to promote ACA

People on X were taken aback by the video featuring former President Barack Obama alongside the sitting President of the United States shared on the platform and CNN.

One X user said, "I love this! Thank you for keeping the ACA alive! So many Americans need it. Can’t wait to vote for you again in 2024!!"

Another user wrote, "The Affordable Care Act has truly been a lifeline for many Americans."

"Throwback to the old VP Joe memes, I can dig it," a user remarked.

"Healthcare for all," one user declared.

Another X user stated, "300 Million Americans are insured bc of the Affordable Care Act. Thank you President Biden and President Obama. Screw Trump for trying to take it away over politics."

One user couldn't get enough of the video and tweeted, "This...I want more ads with Obama and Biden!"

 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.