White House Conducts Press Briefing, Nov. 19
Targeted News Service |
WASHINGTON,
First and foremost, regarding the storms in the Midwest: Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by yesterday's storms, including those who lost a loved one. The President continues to be briefed by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
We urge citizens to continue to follow directions from their local officials.
Before the storm system developed,
My second announcement, or statement, rather, is that at
Yet, Senate Republicans continue their cynical obstruction. Their proposed legislation would remove three judgeships from the D.C. Circuit even though Chief
It's time to stop playing partisan politics with the federal courts. We urge Senate Republicans to stop blocking a simple up-or-down vote. If the
I can now take your questions. I'm aiming for a
Q The Washington Post reported over the weekend that the administration's goal is to have 80 percent of users able to sign up for health care plans online. It is acceptable to the President if one in five of the users aren't able to get insurance online?
The other are those who start the process but find that either because they're not comfortable doing something like this online, or they may not spend a lot of time on the computer, may not be familiar with the kinds of information they need with regards to their financial situation, may end the process on their own and decide to utilize one of the other methods that are available to them to get information and enroll.
And finally, there are those who have a personal or family situation that is complex enough that the site is not the best place to go to enroll. You are better served by using a navigator, a live person either through the call-in center or in one of the walk-in centers that exist all around the country.
So it's important to look at -- when you talk about aiming to have the website functioning effectively for the vast majority of the American people, that there is a universe of people who will go on the site but leave it without getting through it for several reasons, and only one of them really -- or we categorize only one of them having to do with technical issues. Because the goal here is obviously to get people through the system, and by the system we don't mean the website, but through the system and therefore allow them to enroll in a plan and purchase quality, affordable health insurance, if they desire.
So that's why we've been pursuing the other channels which existed even before the
Q But is it acceptable to the President? Is he pushing his aides to do better than this? Because if you had 80 percent of people going to Kayak not eventually be able to book their travel, or 80 percent of people on Amazon -- or, I'm sorry, 80 percent able to, and 20 percent not able to, they probably wouldn't stay in business very long.
So those kinds of complex situations, which is a universe of the population are -- those with those kinds of issues are going to be better served by using a navigator, either going to the call-in center or going to one of the in-person centers, hospitals, community centers and the like, where there are folks who are trained to help walk individuals through this process, and who can help them if they have a complex situation.
And then there are others who -- and this was always going to be the case -- who, even though so many Americans are now comfortable with the computers, and use computers and online sites regularly, that there's going to be, with something as personal and complex as purchasing health insurance, will choose not to do so online. And that was of course always going to be the case.
So when you look at the metrics here, we're focused on -- CMS is focused on, when it comes to the functionality of the website, speed and response times essentially. Response time, as we've explained before, is how fast the system responds to users' requests. And for the first few weeks after the site launched, we estimated that users were waiting an average of 8 seconds for pages across the site to load, and this past week that average response time for most users remained under 1 second. So that's a metric by which they are able to measure the progress that is a result of the improvements, the software and hardware improvements, that they've been putting in place.
Another one is error rate, a measure of the frequency on a per-page basis of system timeouts or failures that prevent the user from advancing to the next page, or a result in errors -- or users, rather, receiving error-messages. And we have reduced the error rate from 6 percent to less than 1 percent. That is still not where we need to be, but it is obviously significant progress.
And finally, site stability is something that is constantly being addressed, and the improvements that are being introduced to improve site stability. So as more and more consumers use the site, the site remains stable and doesn't crash.
Q There also were reports over the weekend that there's some sort of self-assessment going on here at the
We're not engaged in a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking here. So I saw that story. I have no personnel decisions to announce or to even to preview, because right now everybody on the President's team is focused on making the improvements necessary so that this important legislation provides the benefits to millions of Americans that it was designed to provide.
Roberta.
Q So for that 20 percent of people who might not be able to use the website smoothly by the end of the month, what stage are things at in terms of working with health insurance companies on direct enrollment, sharing the risks of that and ramping that up as an alternative, or perhaps a contingency if that 80 percent target isn't reached?
So as hard as we work and we are working and will continue to work on improving the website and its functionality, it has always been the case that we need to make sure that there are other avenues for people either with complex situations or people who would rather not perform this kind of purchase online, and that's why we have call-in centers, and that's why we've beefed them up, and that's why we have in-person counselors who can work with American consumers around the country to make decisions and review options when it comes to health care coverage.
We're working to make those alternate channels even more robust, as you know, and we're working to have as many options for Americans to enroll as possible to help meet the pent-up demand that we've seen. We're engaging with experts in this area, including with health plans, and we are considering additional channels. I think we have worked with insurance companies and state insurance commissioners on these issues and will continue to do that.
I mean, it's important to remember, even as we deal with the absolutely necessary work on improving the website, that the broader -- the website is a means to an end. It's one of a variety of means to the same end, which is providing this benefit to the American people. And the individuals who receive that benefit, including everybody with insurance in America, even those of us, the vast majority of us who have insurance covered through our employers or through
And then those Americans who are uninsured, who have the opportunity now to get coverage because of the Affordable Care Act, the goal is to make sure that those Americans and the 5 percent who are in the individual market, that everyone is made aware of the options available to them and that everyone is able to take advantage of the benefits that the law provides.
So that's our focus. No matter how many fixes are made to the website and how high its functionality, not all of it -- there are going to be Americans who need to get assistance, either in person or over the phone, to enroll.
Q But considering additional channels that you just mentioned -- that's direct enrollment, ramping up direct enrollment with health plans? Is that what you're talking about?
And, in the meantime, and beyond the meantime, we will make sure that there are other channels available for Americans to find out the universe of options available to them and then to make some choices about what kind of insurance coverage suits them best.
Let me go up and back, as I've been doing.
Q I wanted to know the President's reaction to Secretary of Education
Q Is that an appropriate way for the Secretary of Education to talk about a constituency, to qualify them by race?
Ann, how are you?</p>
Q Thank you. Fine, thank you, Jay.
And with regards to interfamily dynamics, obviously this is a tough issue and can be a tough issue for a lot of families. But it is a very American value to pursue equality for everyone.
Q Well, you make the point that opposition to it is wrong; it's not just a matter of tolerating somebody else's point of view. Does the President believe there's been progress in the country, perhaps since --
Q Real quick, following up on Nedra's question. Is it fair to say that 80-percent success on the website would be the vast majority? Is that how you define "vast majority," the phrase you keep using?
Now, there are reasons that have nothing to do with the functionality of the website that some Americans may go online, start the process and decide either because of the complexity of their personal or family situation, or for other reasons, may decide that they would rather engage a live person, either through a call-in center or in person. And that is something that has obviously always been understood. Our goal when it comes to the fixes on the website is to make it as functional as possible so that the fewest number possible of users have some of the problems with delays and errors and crashes that we've seen in the early days of this launch.
Olivier.
Q Jay, the President is having a group of powerful senators to the
Q Not by name and on camera.
Q So why the President and not, say, the National Security Advisor? And how are these --
Q Why the President specifically and not, say, the National Security Advisor? What's the benefit of having the President deliver this briefing? And is he asking them to hold off on sanctions? What's his message?
When it comes to our position on additional sanctions, I'm sure that this will be a topic, because it's the President's view that it's the right thing to do for
And, as you know, we have been engaged with the new government. We have had a round of discussions in
So this is an important stage in this process, and the President looks forward to the meeting.
Q There's some confusion about the amount of sanctions relief that
So this is modest and it is reversible, and it does not -- it's the kind of relief that ensures that even as it's provided, the other sanctions remain in place and continue to have an effect. So the purpose of doing it is to acknowledge that there's no comprehensive agreement achievable at the beginning of a P5-plus-1 process, and that it is far preferable for the P5-plus-1 and all of our international partners and allies for us to lock in a halt to the progress of the program and to roll back certain aspects of it as we negotiate a comprehensive agreement, or see if one is achievable.
The alternative would be to engage in an effort to find out whether or not there's a comprehensive agreement achievable without any kind of first phase and therefore without any halt to the progress. And so that period where we were having these negotiations would also be marked by continued progress by
Q On the 80-percent functionality of the website, that's just a
What I can, again, I think describe for you is that the 8 out of 10, 2 out of 10 structure relates to an expectation of what broadly speaking Americans would experience in a world where the website is functioning effectively for the vast majority of users. So that means that there would be still some -- a small percentage, hopefully -- who are not getting through because they experienced technical difficulties.
And as we've discussed -- I discussed last week, the President discussed last week -- we will not have a perfect website. There will be, as is the case with all complex websites, individuals who experience some technical difficulties somewhere and for some reasons. And the way to measure those, again, goes into those categories of error messages, delayed response times, and stability issues with the site.
But there are other -- and again, in that 2 out of 10 pot, you have two other categories, one -- I mean, and this is just roughly speaking -- one, those who have, as I've described before --
Q And those will be there always.
So that's just to say that there's always going to be a universe of people who -- you know, they may go online, but they may not go through the entire process, not because there's a technical problem with the site, but for other reasons, complexities of their own situation of which there are going to be some percentage of families --
Q Percentage-wise on custody things or geography or --
Q 80/20 is not a ratio just for the website, it's for the entire experience.
Q Picking up on
That was why the President led the way in putting together this comprehensive set of sanctions, the most debilitating and comprehensive set ever imposed in history. And you'll remember that he got there by making clear in his campaign in 2008 and in his inaugural address in January of 2009 that he was willing to meet with and discuss with Iranian leaders these issues. And that was a position that had been criticized during the campaign.
But that willingness basically put the onus on
Since the goal that we all share is making sure
So the end goal here is shared by everyone, and there is no daylight between
Q There clearly appears to be daylight in tactics and methods right now. I mean, everything in that history you just described,
And going back to the beginning of your question, if the decision or the view is that we should not engage in negotiations, you really -- whether you're proactively choosing the use of force as the better alternative or simply disallowing or suggesting there's no path through which you can negotiate a diplomatic peaceful resolution, you're still leaving yourself with only one other means to achieve that objective: Prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
And that's why we -- so we put in place a process working with our --
Q Is that where you think the Israeli government is right now?
Q And they know all the details of the negotiations?
So that remains our policy. That remains our position. And we are going about this with our P5-plus-1 partners in a way that ensures that any steps we take will require transparency and the ability to verify concrete steps by the Iranians. If in the end they are not -- if they demonstrate that they are not willing to take the concrete steps necessary to prove to the world that they're giving up their nuclear weapons ambitions, then there's no deal. Simple as that.
Margaret.
Q Thanks. I want to ask you about the OFA call tonight, but before I forget I wanted to do a little cleanup question. On health care, in the front row, you had said that in addition to what you're doing to improve the website, you're "working with additional channels," and that sounded like maybe worth asking more about. Is this with business, or is the Lady Gaga tour back on, or what are we talking about with the additional channels? (Laughter.)
And in response to the question about -- but in response to the question about direct enrollment, working with insurers, we are having conversations with insurers all the time about that and other issues, all with the goal of maximizing the options available to Americans when it comes to enrolling in and purchasing quality, affordable -- enrolling in the marketplace and purchasing quality, affordable health insurance.
Q But on the additional channels, you meant the channels that we've already talked about before in the past?
Q On OFA, tonight the President will talk with OFA folks on a call. To the extent that you can talk about the policy as well as the political goals, more broadly than sort of trying to get the momentum back, what is he hoping to accomplish specifically with this call, and for what duration of time is he kind of laying forth a plan?
But we cannot forget -- we need to step back and not forget that what was achieved in the passage of the Affordable Care Act was the culmination of a century-long effort by presidents and lawmakers to introduce health insurance reform to make affordable, quality health insurance more broadly available to average Americans, all undertaken with the point of view that in the wealthiest country on Earth, health care should not be a privilege for a few, it should be available to all.
And what we've seen is that passage of that legislation is only half the battle, and implementation of it is just as -- in fact, more important, because we need to make sure that the promise is realized and that Americans across the country who have seen health care costs drive up their own costs have seen -- in a process that's been underway for years and decades, have seen their even their employer-based insurance change in ways that places more costs on them, and also have seen employers drop them and have seen experiences, if they have been in the individual market, that are really challenging for them and create a lot of insecurity for them -- that they are able to get the benefits of this new system that builds on, expands on the private insurance system that we have but does it in a way that provides basic benefits and basic affordability to millions of Americans who didn't have them before.
Q So it's really basically a focus call. It's not going to be about immigration or other --
Q Very quickly -- sorry, I took too much time. Since we've been talking, there's a story out by The Washington Post that says that
Q This is the breaking news question.
Q It may have had something to do with the paper that was passed to you --
Q Anyway, what can you tell about
Let me tell you that the President called
Jim.
Q Since Margaret asked about
Q But there will be a time when he'll be able to look beyond that.
Q And a lot of folks have been asking -- Jay, I know you've been asked this question -- but tomorrow is the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, and they're going to have a ceremony commemorating that up at
Q And recently, in the last several days, the
Q And there are classified files that have still not been released in that case. Has the President weighed in on whether or not those files should be released?
Ed.
Q Jay, quick one on
It is still absolutely the administration's firm commitment to close the detention facility at
The detainee language that is in the
Q Now --
Q Thank you for that. On health care, the whole "vast majority" question -- last week, when the President talked about it, he just used "majority" not "vast majority." Is there any way that the bar can be lowered below 80 percent if at the end of November it's 70 percent or 60 percent? Is that acceptable?
And then, of course, there are going to be people who may find some information online, may have a perfectly acceptable experience, no problems, no errors, but will decide that when it comes to purchasing insurance, that that's not something they're comfortable doing online. That was always going to be the case. There was always going to be a population that fit that description, and that's why it's important that they, too, are able to avail themselves of other means.
Q You mean like go by phone, as you said earlier, or go by mail? Under that scenario, though, could the 80/20 split you were asked about before, could up to 20 percent of the people who go online but can't actually sign up -- I realize not all 20 percent will not be able to get on. Some will do it by mail, some will do it by phone. But will there be a significant percentage of people then who will be fined anyway, even though they went on the website trying to get health care, they don't get it, and then they'll pay the penalty?
There will still be some who experience technical difficulties, and that will result in those individuals, if they don't want to keep trying, availing themselves of the other means available to them. And then there will be those who decide to use other methods because they, for reasons that have nothing to do with the functionality of the website, that it's an issue of complexity in their personal situations or a personal decision not to do this kind of process or make this kind of purchase online.
So I guess the point is, when it comes to the website, we are working 24/7 to make the technical fixes, software and hardware fixes that will improve its functionality. But that's all part of a broader effort to make access to the marketplaces as smooth as possible and provide as many channels as possible, which is what we're doing.
Q And the very last one. There were reports about an official helping to run the D.C. exchange who was fired within hours or within a day of criticizing how the program was working. Did the administration have anything to do with this official in D.C. losing his job?
Peter. This is going to have to be my last engagement.
Q You talked about 80 percent would be viewed as success. Then perhaps to put it more simply, what would failure be defined as? How does the President define failure, not sufficiently meeting the expectations?
Q I mean, for the
Q Just to conclude, as
Q But there's still a potential that some people fall in the gap because there's only two weeks from
Q So you're confident that in some form they will be able to, without question, be able to get it in that window?
Q I just want to be clear -- because that's very important what you just guaranteed -- that everyone will be able to do it by that
Q And everybody ultimately goes through the website. If I call a navigator, I'm going to have to put it through.
So this has to do with the user experience online. And what we're working to do 24/7 is to make improvements to the website so that more and more Americans, up to a vast majority and beyond -- because this work will continue -- have an acceptable experience online. There will still be Americans who choose not to engage in that process when purchasing insurance, so there are other methods by which they can do that.
I've got to run. Thank you all very much.
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