Obama apologizes for healthcare insurance pledge, website

WASHINGTON - Reuters

Obama pauses while speaking at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas, Texas. AFP photo

U.S. President Barack Obama apologized Nov. 7 to Americans who are losing their healthcare insurance policies, saying in an interview that he regrets “we weren’t as clear as we needed to be” about the reforms of his landmark healthcare restructuring.

Obama’s expression of regret was aimed at placating Americans whose insurance plans are being canceled in spite of his oft-repeated pledge that if people liked their health plans, they would be able to keep them under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

“We weren’t as clear as we needed to be, in terms of the changes that were taking place,” Obama said in an interview with NBC News.

“I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation, based on assurances they got from me,” the U.S. president added.

The HealthCare.gov website designed to help Americans shop for insurance and see whether they qualify for subsidies has malfunctioned since its launch.