Barack_Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama sent a message to OFA supporters inviting them to join her in signing a card for President Obama's 49th birthday next week:

Every year, our family tries to come up with a fun way to wish Barack a happy birthday. And this August 4th, when he turns 49, I have something new in mind.

This has been a big and hectic year for him. After signing the Affordable Care Act and Wall Street reform into law and completing his first year as president I think it's safe to say we will remember it for a long time. And I know full well how much he credits this movement, and the work of supporters like you, for the change that we've accomplished.

So I'm putting together a birthday card that I would like you to sign. Together with other Organizing for America supporters and me, Malia, Sasha, and Bo we'll wish him a happy birthday and let him know that we're ready to take on the year ahead alongside him.

This year also brought a lot of surprises some good and some bad.

Supporters like you have helped him make the best of it by contacting Congress to help push stalled legislation forward, by re-engaging supporters in the political process, by giving back with service projects across the country, and so much more. And while we can't know what the coming year will bring, all of us, working together, will continue pushing forward for change.

Will you help make this a memorable birthday for Barack and wish him a happy 49th?

Thanks so much,

Michelle Obama

It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than a month since President Obama—with the help of millions of OFA volunteers—signed health care reform into law. But the challenge of implementing such historic reforms didn’t end when the President added his signature to the Affordable Care Act. The administration has been working hard to provide all Americans with high-quality, affordable health care in a timely and effective manner—even ahead of schedule.

Holding insurance companies accountable: The New York Times noted in an editorial that “Americans are already starting to see the benefits of health care reform. The new law requires health insurance companies—starting in September—to end their most indefensible practice: rescinding coverage after a policyholder gets sick. In recent days insurers and their trade association have rushed to announce that they will end rescissions immediately. That is very good news for the thousands of people who each year pay their premiums but lose their coverage just when they are likely to run up big medical bills.”

Assisting small businesses in lowering costs: Through the Act, an estimated 4 million small businesses will receive tax credits—which they can take advantage of immediately—to provide their employees with affordable, quality health care. The Internal Revenue Service has already begun notifying small businesses of the tax credits available to them.

Extending coverage for young adults: Coverage after college will no longer be a concern for young adults. They will be able to remain on their parents’ insurance plans until age 26. And graduating seniors won’t have to be dropped from their insurance when they don a cap and gown in a few weeks—Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius called on insurance companies to let these young adults stay on in the months between graduation and September 23, when the Act takes effect. Sixty-five insurance plans, including some of the nation’s biggest, have agreed.

Helping Americans with pre-existing conditions: Last March health insurance companies agreed to Secretary Sebelius’s request that children with pre-existing conditions not be denied coverage. Full protection for all Americans with pre-existing conditions will be implemented in 2014, but until then, temporary high-risk pools at the state and federal levels will be created as early as July 1.

It will take four years to fully implement all the provisions of health reform. As President Obama said when he signed the bill, "We need to get this right." But just one month in, we're already starting to see benefits of this historic law.

This week, I gathered with members of Congress, my administration, and hardworking volunteers from every part of the country to sign comprehensive health care reform into law. Thanks to the immeasurable efforts of so many, the dream of reform is now a reality.

The bill puts Americans in charge of our own health care by enacting three key changes:

1. It establishes the toughest patient protections in history.
2. It guarantees all Americans affordable health insurance options, extending coverage to 32 million who are currently uninsured.  
3. And it reduces the cost of care -- cutting over 1 trillion dollars from the federal deficit over the next two decades.

To ensure a successful, stable transition, many of these changes will phase into full effect over the next several years.

But for millions of Americans, many of the benefits of reform will begin this year -- some even taking effect this week. Here are just a few examples:

• Small businesses will receive significant tax cuts, this year, to help them afford health coverage for all their employees.  
• Seniors will receive a rebate to reduce drug costs not yet covered under Medicare.
• Young people will be allowed coverage under their parents' plan until the age of 26.
• Early retirees will receive help to reduce premium costs.  
• Children will be protected against discrimination on the basis of medical history.

Uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions can join a special high-risk pool to get the coverage they need, starting in just 90 days.

Insured Americans will be protected from seeing their insurance revoked when they get sick, or facing restrictive annual limits on the care they receive.

All Americans will benefit from significant new investments to train primary care doctors, nurses, and public health professionals, and the creation of state-level consumer assistance programs to help all patients understand and defend our new rights.

As I've said many times, and as I know to be true, this astounding victory could not have been achieved without your tireless efforts.

So as we celebrate this great day, I want to invite you to add your name where it belongs: alongside mine as a co-signer of this historic legislation. Organizing for America will record the names of co-signers as a permanent commemoration of those who came together to make this moment possible -- all of you who refused to give up until the dream of many generations for affordable, quality care for all Americans was finally fulfilled.

So, if you haven't yet, please add your name as a proud health care reform co-signer today.

Please accept my thanks for your voice, for your courage, and for your indispensable partnership in the great work of creating change.

History, and I, are in your debt.

President Barack Obama