Fact Check: The Truth Behind Obama’s Health Care Plan

President Obama took his health care reform plan to the American people in a forum at the White House Wednesday night broadcast live on ABC. Obama took questions on a wide variety of topics, from how he plans to pay for the reform to whether people will be able to keep their current insurance plans and doctors.

A fact check on President Obama’s main messages of Wednesday night’s forum reveal a president eager to make his case to the public — but sometimes glossing over the thorny details of how to achieve reform.

Fact check no. 1: Health Care Costs Versus Wages

President Obama told the audience Wednesday night that health care costs are increasing at a rate three times faster than wages in America. It’s a line he has used regularly as he campaigns for the health care plan.

But several studies indicate the growth rate is higher than that. Families USA, a group that advocates for health care reform, found that costs are rising at a rate five times faster than wages in America in a report issued in October 2008.

And the Kaiser Family Foundation found that family health care costs increased by 78 percent between 2001 and 2008.

Fact check no. 2: Can You Keep Your Current Health Plan?

President Obama used different language tonight to argue that his health care plan won’t force people off of their current health plans.

“If you are happy with your plan, and if you are happy with your doctor, we don’t want you to have to change,” the president said.

Then, he made a slightly different claim: “If you’re happy with your plan and your doctor, you stick with it.”