Obama 'willing and eager' to work with GOP to improve healthcare law

President Obama said Tuesday evening that the American people "have greater health security than they did a year ago" thanks to the healthcare reform law that House Republicans plan to repeal Wednesday. 

Following a day of claims and counter-claims about the law's benefits and costs, Obama said he was "willing and eager" to work with both parties to "improve" his signature domestic achievement.

"But we can’t go backward," Obama said. "Americans deserve the freedom and security of knowing that insurance companies can’t deny, cap or drop their coverage when they need it the most, while taking meaningful steps to curb runaway healthcare costs.”

The White House has already warned that it would veto repeal legislation in the highly unlikely event that it clears the Senate.

The complete text of the president's statement is below:

"Today, the American people have greater health security than they did a year ago. Because of the Affordable Care Act, Americans no longer have to live in fear that insurance companies will drop or cap their coverage if they get sick, or that they’ll face double-digit premium increases with no accountability or recourse. Small businesses across the country can take advantage of a new healthcare tax credit to offer coverage to their employees, and children suffering from an illness or pre-existing condition can no longer be denied coverage. Parents now can add their adult children up to age 26 to their health plans, and all Americans on new plans can access preventive care to keep them healthy with no additional out-of-pocket costs. Older Americans are seeing better benefits, lower prescription drug costs and a stronger Medicare. And the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reports that improvements in the healthcare delivery system as a result of this law will reduce federal deficits by over a trillion dollars in the next two decades. 

"So I’m willing and eager to work with both Democrats and Republicans to improve the Affordable Care Act. But we can’t go backward. Americans deserve the freedom and security of knowing that insurance companies can’t deny, cap or drop their coverage when they need it the most, while taking meaningful steps to curb runaway healthcare costs.”