In a recent NBC-Wall Street Journal survey, more Americans said the deficit and government spending, rather than healthcare, should be the federal government's top priority.
"That could send a message to Congress that it is not necessary to move this year," said Robert Blendon of the Harvard University School of Public Health. "What the president has to do is keep healthcare on the agenda so there is no way that when it gets ugly, Congress can say, 'We can go home and not pass anything.' "
Obama has said he hopes to sign a healthcare bill in the fall.
On Wednesday, he implored his audience -- which submitted questions online as well as in person -- not to let that timeline slip. Obama's staff screened online questions.
As he has done in recent weeks, the president highlighted the trials of Americans trying to get medical care while employers drop insurance and insurers deny coverage.
Obama also delivered a warning to the majority of Americans who have insurance and report they are happy with their medical care.
"What's happened if you've got health insurance?" he said. "Your employer's . . . increased deductibles. They've increased premiums. Your out-of-pocket costs have gone up by about 62%. . . . Families have seen their healthcare costs double over the last nine years. So you just project out nine years from now: Your wages or incomes aren't going up that fast, which means that a bigger, bigger bite is being taken out of your paycheck even if you've got health insurance."
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noam.levey@latimes.com
