Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Obamacare-ification: Romney Supports Screwing Over 89 Million Americans
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 10, 2012
Modified Sep 10, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 10, 2012
Modified Sep 10, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday Mitt Romney told Meet the Press that he in fact supports at least two provisions of "Obamacare": allowing adults to remain covered by their parents' plans until age 26 and preventing health care companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions. But hours after his comments aired, Romney's campaign issued a clarification: he really meant to say that he supported coverage for pre-existing conditions for those who have had continuous coverage, not a federal ban against denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. So move along folks, nothing to see here: just a man with the best pre-existing condition of all supporting legislation that would leave out 89 million Americans.
That figure comes from a Washington Post analysis of Americans who have had gaps in their coverage from the years 2004 to 2007. It amounts to 36% of the population between the ages of 4 and 65. Romney's support of covering people who've had continuous coverage is remarkably brave, considering that such a provision is already current law. (Pro tip for Poet Laureate Natasha Tretheway: get started on that moving sonnet for Romney's inauguration about his support of denying coverage for 89 million Americans now, because the holidays are usually pretty hectic.)
We eagerly await Romney's plan to replace "Obamacare" by appointing ex-president Barack Obama to lead a panel to study whether a certain health care law in Massachusetts is right for the rest of the country.
Tagged
2012 election
affordable care act
health care
mitt romney
obamacare
rich people
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man killed in police-involved shooting in Moonachie, NJ
A New Jersey state trooper was involved in the incident Wednesday, according to the New Jersey attorney general's office.
By
Kaya Laterman
Published Oct 28, 2026 at 9:06 p.m. ET
Queens man took girlfriend’s body to beach in a wagon, where it remained for 5 days
Seraphina Pereira was found in a shallow grave at Rockaway Community Park. Rogelio Lozano-Garita pleaded not guilty to murder on Wednesday.
By
Charles Lane
News
Queens man took girlfriend’s body to beach in a wagon, where it remained for 5 days
Seraphina Pereira was found in a shallow grave at Rockaway Community Park. Rogelio Lozano-Garita pleaded not guilty to murder on Wednesday.
By
Charles Lane
Mamdani extends NYC racial equity leader's term after Council pushes back on replacement
By
Elizabeth Kim
Woman charged with federal hate crimes after allegedly stabbing 2 Jewish men in NYC
By
Giulia Heyward
Ex-NYPD sergeant sentenced to 4-12 years in deadly drunken Taconic crash
By
Charles Lane
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .