For nearly 100 years, American Presidents from both political parties tried to reform our health care system. On March 23, 2010, President Obama finally did by signing the Affordable Care Act into law, which has helped millions of Americans gain access to quality, affordable health coverage. Take this quiz to test your knowledge about what past Presidents have said about the need to fix our health care system. You might be surprised by some of the answers.
1. Who was the first President to propose national health insurance?
Well done! You're off to a great start. Former President Theodore Roosevelt was the first to propose a national health insurance plan while on the campaign trail in 1912. More at wh.gov/healthcare-in-america
Wrong! Former President Theodore Roosevelt was actually the first to propose a national health insurance plan while on the campaign trail in 1912. More at wh.gov/healthcare-in-america
2. Who said it? "An all-directions reform of our health care system—so that every citizen will be able to get quality health care at reasonable cost regardless of income and regardless of area of residence—remains an item of highest priority on my unfinished agenda for America."
You're correct! President Richard Nixon said this in a 1972 address to Congress about his proposal to require employers to provide a minimum level of health insurance to their employees.
Sorry, try again. This was actually President Richard Nixon in a 1972 address to Congress on his proposal to require employers to provide a minimum level of health insurance to their employees.
3. Who said it? "At long last, after decades of false starts, we must make this our most urgent priority, giving every American health security, health care that can never be taken away, health care that is always there."
That's right! President Bill Clinton proposed one of the boldest efforts yet to pass health care reform in 1993. More at wh.gov/healthcare-in-america
Nope! This was actually President Bill Clinton in 1993. He proposed one of the boldest efforts yet to expand coverage, promote competition, and control costs. More at wh.gov/healthcare-in-america
4. Who said it? "We can and we must strive now to assure the availability of and accessibility to the best health care for all Americans, regardless of age or geography or economic status."
You really know your stuff! President Lyndon Johnson said this to Congress shortly before signing Medicare and Medicaid into law about the need to provide health care coverage to elderly, poor, and disabled Americans. Today, those vital programs insure more than 100 million Americans. More at wh.gov/healthcare-in-america
You're off the mark. It was actually President Lyndon Johnson who said this to Congress shortly before signing Medicare and Medicaid into law about the need to provide health care coverage to elderly, poor, and disabled Americans. Today, those vital programs insure more than 100 million Americans. More at wh.gov/healthcare-in-america
5. Who said it? "I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last."
Boom! You're pretty smart. President Obama said this to a joint session of Congress in 2009. On March 23, 2010, he signed the Affordable Care Act into law, which has already helped more than 16 million Americans gain access to quality, affordable health coverage. More at wh.gov/healthcare-in-america
Wrong answer. It was actually President Obama who said this to a joint session of Congress in 2009. On March 23, 2010, he signed the Affordable Care Act into law. After five years, more than 16 million Americans have gained access to quality, affordable health coverage. More at wh.gov/healthcare-in-america
Most people don’t realize exactly what health reform has meant for millions of Americans. Learn something new in this quiz? We bet your friends will, too.
Challenge them to take it — then head to wh.gov/health-care-in-america to see more, including the President’s remarks about health care in America.