WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama didn't let a common cold get in the way of keeping health care reform in the news while her husband travels to Asia for diplomatic meetings and an economic summit.Obama apologized for her sniffles to a Friday gathering of mostly women in the East Room of the White House, where she highlighted the medical needs of older women.
"I don't think anyone here will be surprised to learn that a recent study found that one-third of all women have either used up savings, taken on debt, or given up basic necessities just to pay their medical bills," she said.
"And as many of you know firsthand, these kinds of problems - the problems of coverage and cost - only grow worse when you get older, making quality, affordable coverage harder to come by…just when you need it the most."
The popular First Lady is viewed in and out of the White House as a compelling surrogate for her husband on health care reform, yet she has only done a few events on the topic. She has focused mainly on health insurance issues that face families - a topic close to her heart.
"Our mothers and grandmothers, they have taken care of us all their lives; they've made the sacrifices that it takes to get us where we need to be. And we have an obligation to make sure that we're taking care of them. It's as simple as that," she said.
The First Lady took aim at what she described as myths surrounding Medicare, in particular.
"Not a dime of the Medicare Trust Fund will be used to pay for reform. Health insurance reform will not endanger Medicare; it will make Medicare more stable and secure," she insisted.
"My husband believes that Medicare is a sacred part of America's social safety net, and it's a safety net that he will protect…with health insurance reform."
