Letters to the President: Marla and the Affordable Care Act

Every day, thousands of Americans write the President about the issues that matter most to them -- and my job is to help sort through them. This post is part of a series that will help highlight the stories of Americans who have written the President about the Affordable Care Act and what it means to them. Starting November 15, you can visit HealthCare.gov to shop for and enroll in a plan that works for you.

The voices of people across America inform the President and give him invaluable perspective on the progress we've made -- as well as the work we've got left to do. If you want to write the President yourself, you can do that here.

“We tentatively read each plan’s offerings, and were very surprised by the quality of the coverage being offered. These plans offered much better coverage than we had previously.”

President Barack Obama participates in a photo line at Cheesman Park in Denver, Colorado, July 9, 2014. This is letter writer Marla Morine of Ft. Collins, CO. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

For too long, many hard-working Americans' access to quality, affordable health care was determined by where they worked. Those who did not have insurance through an employer and were not eligible for another government program were left with one choice: fend for yourself on the open insurance market. Last year, all of that changed for Marla Morine of Fort Collins, Colorado -- and for millions of Americans just like her -- when the Affordable Care Act began making quality, affordable health coverage available to Americans no matter where they work.

Marla experienced the broken individual insurance market firsthand, after she lost her job in 2008. In her mid-fifties, when she needed insurance more than ever before, the best coverage she could find on the individual market was expensive, with a very large deductible and unimpressive coverage. The following year, her premium was set to increase and Marla decided health insurance was something she could no longer afford. She decided to drop coverage and found herself uninsured for the first time in many years.

Americans like Marla who bought health insurance on their own felt that the system was not fair -- and it wasn’t.

Insurance companies could decide not to cover certain pre-existing conditions, they could charge women higher rates than men, and they would raise rates or drop coverage altogether when people tried to actually use their insurance while facing a serious medical emergency.

Fortunately for Marla and the millions of Americans who were buying insurance on their own, the Affordable Care Act created a Health Insurance Marketplace in all 50 states. This means that everyone has access to the same insurance options on an open marketplace. This is quality insurance that includes many protections and rights insurance companies didn’t provide before and no one can be denied or charged more based on pre-existing conditions. What's more, low- and middle-income families are eligible for financial assistance that lowers their monthly premiums and finally makes coverage affordable. You can learn more and find the Marketplace for your state at HealthCare.gov.

In December of last year, Marla and her husband looked into their options for insurance in the Colorado Marketplace.

She wrote to tell the President that they “tentatively read each plan’s offerings, and were very surprised by the quality of the coverage being offered. These plans offered much better coverage than we had previously.” Marla found coverage that fit her budget, and now she is able to get regular wellness check-ups and see a doctor when she is sick. When the President was in Colorado this summer, he had a chance to speak with Marla.

This year’s open enrollment period begins November 15, 2014. Starting this Saturday, you can shop for coverage -- like Marla’s -- that fits your needs and your budget at HealthCare.gov.

Marla’s story reminds us what the Affordable Care Act has been about since the beginning -- ensuring that all Americans have access to the health and economic security that only comprehensive insurance can provide. For Marla this means that she is able to secure good, affordable insurance at a time in her life when she needs it most. For some it will mean they can stay on their parents insurance plan until they are 26 as they begin life on their own. And for others it will mean no longer worrying their child will be unable to find health insurance their entire life because they were born with a pre-existing condition. The Affordable Care Act is benefitting the lives of millions of Americans, like Marla, who know that this law will protect their health and dignity for generations to come.

Putin Faces Frosty Reception At G20 In Australia

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Russian President Vladimir Putin looks to his side during the family photo session of the G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, on Saturday. Putin was sternly criticized by Western leaders over Moscow's involvement in eastern Ukraine. Rob Griffith/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Rob Griffith/AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks to his side during the family photo session of the G-20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, on Saturday. Putin was sternly criticized by Western leaders over Moscow's involvement in eastern Ukraine.

Rob Griffith/AP

President Obama and other Western leaders gave Russian leader Vladimir Putin an earful at the G20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, today.

Obama said the United States is on the forefront of "opposing Russia's aggression against Ukraine," and referenced the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine — a move widely blamed on pro-Russia separatists armed with surface-to-air missiles provided by Moscow.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper was even blunter than Obama: According to a spokesman for Harper, the leader told Putin at the summit: "I guess I'll shake your hand but I have only one thing to say to you: you need to get out of Ukraine."

The BBC reports that British Prime Minister David Cameron said before the summit that there would be "a very different relationship" between Europe and Russia if "we continue to see Russian troops" inside Ukraine, adding that there was "the potential for further sanctions".

Amid the criticism, there were reports that Putin would leave the summit early. But Reuters quotes a Kremlin spokesman as denying that.

As the news agency notes:

"Western nations have imposed successive rounds of sanctions on Moscow, accusing it of sending troops and tanks to back pro-Russian rebels fighting to break away from Ukraine. Russia denies the charges."

"The measures, aimed at sectors like oil and banking, as well as individuals close to Putin, are squeezing Russia's economy at a time when falling oil prices are straining the budget and the rouble has plunged on financial markets."

Weekly Address: Open Enrollment Starts Today

President Barack Obama tapes the Weekly Address in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Nov. 6, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

In this week’s address, the President reminded Americans that Affordable Care Act open enrollment begins this weekend. In the past year, more than 10 million people have gained health insurance, including more than 7 million who enrolled in Health Insurance Marketplace coverage. They are proof that the Affordable Care Act is working, making health care more affordable, accessible, and of higher quality for millions of people.

The President encouraged all Americans to take advantage of open enrollment, and remind their friends and families to do so as well.

Transcript | mp4 | mp3

Need to get covered? Find a health plan that best fits your needs at HealthCare.gov.

Already covered? Commit to help someone you know get covered here.

Lebanese support ISIS airstrikes: survey

BEIRUT: The majority of the Arab public opposes ISIS and supports the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes against the group's elements in Syria and Iraq, according to a survey. However, most Arabs still believe that Washington and its closest ally, Israel, remain the greatest threat to the region.

The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies Saturday released its findings from a public opinion survey on attitudes toward the airstrikes carried out by the international coalition against ISIS.

Survey respondents took part by telephone and were asked questions designed to determine their attitudes toward both the international coalition’s aim in carrying out the airstrikes against ISIS in both Iraq and Syria and ISIS itself.

The researchers surveyed 600 respondents in each of seven Arab countries: Tunisia, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Iraq. A further sample of 900 Syrian refugees was drawn equally in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.

The center reports that 59 percent of Arabs expressed varying degrees of support for the airstrikes by the international coalition against armed extremist groups including ISIS. In contrast, 37 percent of respondents voiced varying levels of opposition to the campaign.

Notably, twice as many respondents were strongly in favor of the military campaign as were strongly opposed to it: 25 percent compared to 12 percent.

Lebanon showed the highest levels of support for the international coalition against ISIS: 76 percent of Lebanese respondents support the airstrikes compared to 24 percent who were opposed.

The lowest levels of support for the strikes came from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Palestine, with only 50 percent of Saudis expressing support for military action against armed extremist groups. Saudi Arabia is a member of the international coalition and has participated in airstrikes in Syria.

In Palestine, 52 percent said they supported the airstrikes.

The proportion of Egyptians who were “strongly” supportive of military action was the lowest of any individual country at 6 percent. Opposition to the strikes was highest in Egypt, with 48 percent of Egyptians opposing the airstrikes.

Across all population groups, 22 percent of respondents expressed confidence in the international coalition achieving its stated aims to “destroy and degrade ISIS,” while one-third believed the coalition would not be able to do so.

Saudis and Lebanese showed the highest levels of confidence in the coalition’s abilities.

“Yet Lebanon was also very polarized, having the highest proportion of respondents who lack confidence in the coalition’s capabilities: 41 percent of respondents in that country expressing the opinion that the coalition would not achieve its aims,” the report said.

Thirty-eight percent of Syrian refugees believed the coalition’s aims were unachievable.

Asked about Arab countries’ involvement in the anti-ISIS campaign, a total of 61 percent of Arab respondents supported the move while 12 percent of them “strongly” opposed it.

The highest levels of support for Arab participation were found in Lebanon, with roughly 75 percent of respondents in that country expressing varying levels of Arab support. Lebanon was followed by Saudi Arabia.

Respondents from Palestine were the least supportive of Arab participation, with 50 percent of Palestinians opposing it.

As for the possibility of Western boots on the ground, 45 percent were “absolutely” opposed to such a move by the U.S. and its Western allies. This was compared to 31 percent of respondents who were “definitely” in favor of such a deployment.

“Lebanon was the only country where a majority (51 percent) was 'definitely' in favor of the deployment of ground troops by the United States and its Western allies,” the report said.

However, 40 percent of the Arab public is in favor of the deployment of Arab ground forces to confront ISIS compared to 36 percent of respondents who were opposed.

The overall results show that 31 percent of the Arab public named the United States to be one of the two biggest beneficiaries of the military campaign, while 27 percent named Israel as one of the two parties who stood to gain the most.

The largest proportion of respondents who believed their own country to be a major beneficiary of the military campaign was found in Lebanon. This was followed by Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.

The Lebanese Army has clashed repeatedly with militants after the Nusra Front and ISIS attacked and briefly overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August. The militants, who were driven out of Syria's Qalamoun region, are currently holed up in the porous border region between the two countries, along with 27 Lebanese soldiers and policemen they are holding captive.

Respondents were also asked to identify the two largest threats to the security and stability of the Arab region. Results indicate that 28 percent of public opinion surveyed listed Israel as the largest threat to regional security, followed by the United States (21 percent), Iran (17 percent), and armed Islamic groups (13 percent).

Ibrahim denies meeting Nusra Front over Lebanon's hostage crisis

BEIRUT: General Security denied Saturday reports that Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim held talks with the Nusra Front, which reportedly refused direct negotiations with the Lebanese government on the hostage crisis.

“The General Directorate strongly denies this news and hopes that news outlets would be accurate and transparent in their reporting,” a statement by the security agency said.

Al-Akhbar newspaper said Ibrahim personally met with the Nusra Front a month ago and that the militants refused to hand the General Security chief their list of demands to release Lebanese soldiers and policemen.

The daily quoted a high-ranking security source as saying that the militants told Ibrahim that they were waiting for the Qatari mediator, a Syrian tasked by Doha to negotiate between the militants and the government.

Militants reportedly told Ibrahim that they would hand over their demands to the mediator, who was tasked by Qatar to negotiate the release of 27 soldiers and policemen held by ISIS and Nusra Front.

As-Safir said Ibrahim only talked with the Nusra Front over Skype but reported that the militants with the extremist group rejected holding direct negotiations with the Lebanese official.

The local daily also reported that both ISIS and Nusra Front had agreed to allow relatives of kidnapped soldiers and policemen to visit the hostages in groups.

Last month, the mediator met with the Nusra Front who gave him a list of three demands that the Lebanese government could choose from, including the release of Roumieh prisoners and female detainees in Syrian prisons in exchange for the Lebanese hostages.

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