Sep 10, 2009 8:37 pm US/Eastern
NYC Seniors Not Buying Obama Health Reform Speech
Many Tell CBS 2 HD They Are Fine With The Coverage They Have; Others Vow To Never Vote For President Again
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of Congress on his embattled healthcare reform plan at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 9, 2009.
Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
During his speech Wednesday night President Barack Obama tried to re-assure senior citizens that their Medicare coverage would be preserved.
But some seniors here in New York are still skeptical.
The people at the Northeast Bronx Senior Center heard what Obama had to say about health care reform and trying to preserve their Medicare coverage.
"The only thing this plan would eliminate is the hundreds of billions of dollars in waste and fraud as well as unwarranted subsidies in Medicare that go to insurance companies," Obama said.
But many weren't happy.
"Don't mess with me Obama. Don't mess with me. I really, really, really don't go for it," said Rose Marie Moshier of Throggs Neck.
"Let them pay attention to the economy and leave the health plan alone," said Yolanda Marino of Claussen Point. "I'm satisfied with what I have and I know millions of other people are, too."
"It's a money issue. Whose gonna pay for all this? You know he says there's money out there, but I don't know. They get it from the tree?" another New Yorker wondered.
There are still things that are unclear and many have turned to their city councilman, James Vacca.
"Senior citizens want to make sure that if they need rehab services that those serviced are better than they are now and if they need long term care that they are provided for in their elder years," Vacca said.
As they played pool and bingo many told CBS 2 HD that the coverage they have now, often a combination of Medicare and health plans from their jobs, allows them to live independently and not be put in an old age home. They said that's key to them.
"I don't know what he's going to do, but if it hurts me I'll never vote for him again. I'm scared, sure. I'm worried," one New Yorker said.
There are a lot of questions here about the president's health care plan and you know what that means: Obama still has a lot of answering to do.
The president intends to remain in the health care spotlight repeatedly in the coming days. On Thursday he met with the American Nurses Association. On Saturday it will be a healthcare rally in Minnesota.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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