Obama seeks to quell furor over insurance cancellations

In a speech in Boston on 30 October President Barack Obama sought to quell the furor over reports that many Americans who previously bought health insurance on their own are being told that their policies have been terminated because of requirements imposed by the Affordable Care Act and that they must choose a new plan.

About 6% of people who aren’t elderly buy their insurance plans on the individual market. Elderly people are covered by Medicare.

The cancellations seem to contradict Obama’s promise that people could keep their current insurance plan if they wanted. In a 2009 speech to the American Medical Association he said, “No matter how we reform healthcare, we will keep this …