奥巴马每周电视讲话 2010年5月8日

Weekly Address: President Obama Praises the Benefits and Successes of Health Reform Already in Effect
 每周电视讲话：奥巴马总统赞扬医疗改革的成功实施及其带来的好处
 
WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama highlighted the ways in which health reform is already holding insurance companies more accountable and giving consumers more control.  Implementing² everything in the new law will not happen overnight.  But already, consumers are getting a break from unfair rate hikes and insurance companies will no longer drop coverage³ for people when they get sick.  Four million small businesses have been notified that they could be eligible⁴ for a health care tax cut this year.  Retirees will soon receive help if they fall into the prescription⁵ drug “donut hole.”  And, young adults will be able to stay on their parents’ plan until they are 26 years old.
 华盛顿消息：在本周的电视讲话中，巴拉克·奥巴马总统强调说医疗改革使得保险公司负有更多责任，并给予消费者更多控制权。虽然新医改法下的一切事情不会在一夜之间全部开始生效。但是消费者已经在不公平的高涨的保险费率上取得一些突破，而且保险公司再也不能在人们生病的时候缩减保险承保范围了。400万中小企业已接到通知，今年，他们将获得医保的税费减免。退休人员也将在陷入处方药“甜甜圈”【注1】时获得帮助。还有，年轻人将可以在父母的保险计划中受益直至26岁。
 
It has now been a little over a month since I signed health insurance reform into law.  And while it will take some time to fully⁶ implement¹ this law, reform is already delivering real benefits to millions of Americans.  Already, we are seeing a health care system that holds insurance companies more accountable and gives consumers more control.
 自从我签署医疗改革法生效以来有一个多月时间了。尽管该法的全面实施尚待时日，但改革已经为千万美国人民带来实实在在的利益。而且我们也看见医保系统使得保险公司负有更多责任，消费者也有了更多的控制权。
 
Two weeks ago, four million small business owners and organizations found a postcard in their mailbox informing them that they could be eligible for a health care tax cut this year – a tax cut potentially worth tens of thousands of dollars; a tax cut that will help millions provide coverage to their employees.
 两周前，400万中小企业主和组织收到了一张明信片，上面是关于他们获得本年度医保税费减免的通知。这份税费减免可能价值数万美元，可帮助数百万企业主为其员工提供医疗保险。
 
Starting in June, businesses will get even more relief for providing coverage to retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare.  And a little over a month from now, on June 15th, senior citizens who fall into the prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole” will start receiving a $250 rebate⁷ to help them afford their medication.
 从六月开始，企业将在新医保范围外的退休人员医保问题上获得进一步的压力缓解。再过一个多月，也就是6月15日，当老人陷入处方药保险缺口（也就是所谓的“甜甜圈”）时将获得250美元的贴现以帮助其支付医疗费用。
 
Aside from providing real, tangible⁸ benefits to the American people, the new health care law has also begun to end the worst practices of insurance companies.  For too long, we have been held hostage to an insurance industry that jacks⁹ up premiums¹¹ and drops coverage as they please.  But those days are finally coming to an end.
 除了能为美国人民带来实实在在的利益外，新医疗保险法也将终结保险公司的恶劣行径。我们被整个保险行业随意提高保险费率和降低保险服务范围绑架的太久太久了。这些日子以来，一切都要结束了。
 
After our administration demanded that Anthem¹² Blue Cross justify¹³ a 39% premium¹⁰ increase on Californians, the company admitted the error and backed off its plan.  And this week, our Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, wrote a letter to all states urging them to investigate other rate hikes and stop insurance companies from gaming the system.  To help states achieve this goal, we’ve set up a new Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight¹⁴, and will provide grants to states with the best oversight programs.
 在管理部门质询蓝十字颂歌公司（Anthem Blue Cross）【注：一家加利福利亚的保险公司】对加利福利亚地区提高39%保险投保费的正当性后，该公司承认了错误并放弃了这项计划。本周，健康与公共事业局（Health and Human Services）局长凯瑟琳·瑟比列斯（Kathleen Sebelius）给所有州写了封信，鼓励各州调查其他的保险费率提高问题并叫停保险公司在保险系统中钻空子的行为。为帮助各州达成这一目标，我们新成立了一个消费者信息与保险监管办公室，将为各州施行最好的监管计划提供资助。
 
In the next month, we’ll also be putting in place a new patients’ bill of rights.  It will provide simple and clear information to consumers about their choices and their rights.  It will set up an appeals process to enforce those rights.  And it will prohibit insurance companies from limiting a patients’ access to their preferred primary care provider, ob-gyn, or emergency room care.
 下个月，我们将推出新的病人权益法案。这将为消费者的选择和权利提供简明的信息。并建立申诉流程来强制保证这些权利。而且将禁止保险公司限制病人自己选择他们喜欢的主治医师，妇产医生或是急诊护理。
 
We’re holding insurance companies accountable in other ways, as well.  As of September, the new health care law prohibits insurance companies from dropping people’s coverage when they get sick and need it most.  But when we found out that an insurance company was systematically¹⁵ dropping the coverage of women diagnosed with breast cancer, my administration called on them to end this practice immediately.  Two weeks ago, the entire insurance industry announced that it would comply with the new law early and stop the perverse¹⁶ practice of dropping people’s coverage when they get sick.
 我们也将通过其他途径让保险公司负责。自九月份起，新医疗保险法将禁止保险公司在人们生病和最需要的时候缩减保险范围。当我们发现某家保险公司对诊断出乳腺癌的患者系统性地缩减保险范围时，我们的管理部门及时要求他们停止这种行为。两周前，整个保险行业发表声明称将尽早遵从新法规定并终止对病人缩减保险范围的错误行径。
 
On Monday, we’ll also be announcing the new rule that allows young adults without insurance to stay on their parents’ plan until they’re 26 years old.  Even though insurance companies have until September to comply with this rule, we’ve asked them to do so immediately to avoid coverage gaps for new college graduates and other young adults.  This also makes good business sense for insurance companies, and we’re pleased that most have agreed.  Now we need employers to do the same, and we’re willing to work with them to make this transition possible.  These changes mean that starting this spring, when young adults graduate from college, many who do not have health care coverage will be able to stay on their parents’ insurance for a few more years.  And you can check healthreform.gov to find a list of all the insurance carriers who have agreed to participate right away.
 周一，我们将颁布新的规定，允许没有医疗保险的年轻人在父母的医保计划中受益直至其到26岁。尽管保险公司要到9月份才被要求遵守这项规定，但我们已要求他们尽快按照规定行事以避免应届大学毕业生以及其他年轻人的医保缺口。这对保险公司在商业上也是有利的，我们很高兴大部分公司也同意这一观点。现在我们需要雇主们也同样付出努力，我们希望通过共同努力来渡过这个过渡期。这些改变意味着从今年春天开始，当大学生毕业后，许多没有医疗保险的毕业生将可以在父母的保险计划中继续受益数年。你们可以马上登陆healthreform.gov查看参与该计划的保险承保商清单。
 
I’ve said before that implementing health insurance reform won’t happen overnight, and it will require some tweaks and changes along the way.  Ultimately, we’ll have a system that provides more control for consumers, more accountability for insurance companies, and more affordable¹⁷ choices for uninsured Americans.  But already, we are seeing how reform is improving the lives of millions of Americans.  Already, we are watching small businesses learn that they will soon pay less for health care.  We are seeing retirees realize they’ll be able to keep their coverage and seniors realize they’ll be able to afford their prescriptions¹⁸.  We’re seeing consumers get a break from unfair rate hikes, patients get the care they need when they need it, and young adults get the security of knowing they can start off life with one less cost to worry about.  At long last, this is what health care reform is achieving.  This is what change looks like.  And this is the promise we will keep as we continue to make this law a reality in the months and years to come.
 我曾说过医保改革的实现不会一蹴而就，在这个过程中需要些调整和改变。最终，我们将拥有一个医保系统，在这个系统中，消费者有更多控制权，保险公司负有更多责任，没有医疗保险的美国人将有更多可负担的起的选择。但现在我们已经可以看到改革改变着无数美国人的生活。我们可以看到中小企业将在医疗保险上降低支出。我们可以看到退休人员会发现他们可以继续保留自己的保险，老人们会发现他们可以担负的起处方药。我们可以看到消费者在不公平的高涨的费率上取得一定的突破，病人在需要的时候可获得应有的保险服务，年轻人在开始自己的生活时少了一份支出的担忧，多了一分安宁。这就是医疗保险改革所要达到的最终目标，也是改革应有的样子。这也是我们在未来的岁月里继续将这部法律落到实处所信守的诺言。
 
Thanks so much.
 非常感谢！
 
 

1 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

2 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

3 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

4 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

5 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

6 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

7 rebate   

v./n.折扣，回扣，退款；vt.给...回扣，给...打折扣

参考例句：

• You can claim a rebate on your tax.你可以要求退回部分税款。
• Customers are to benefit from a rebate on their electricity bills.顾客将从他们的电费退费中得到实惠。

8 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

9 jacks   

n.抓子游戏；千斤顶( jack的名词复数 )；（电）插孔；[电子学]插座；放弃

参考例句：

• Hydraulic jacks under the machine produce the movement. 是机器下面的液压千斤顶造成的移动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The front end is equipped with hydraulic jacks used for grade adjustment. 前瑞安装有液压千斤顶用来调整坡度。 来自辞典例句

10 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

11 premiums   

n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价

参考例句：

• He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

13 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

14 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

15 systematically   

adv.有系统地

参考例句：

• This government has systematically run down public services since it took office.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。
• The rainforest is being systematically destroyed.雨林正被系统地毀灭。

16 perverse   

adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的

参考例句：

• It would be perverse to stop this healthy trend.阻止这种健康发展的趋势是没有道理的。
• She gets a perverse satisfaction from making other people embarrassed.她有一种不正常的心态，以使别人难堪来取乐。

17 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

18 prescriptions   

药( prescription的名词复数 )； 处方； 开处方； 计划

参考例句：

• The hospital of traditional Chinese medicine installed a computer to fill prescriptions. 中医医院装上了电子计算机来抓药。
• Her main job was filling the doctor's prescriptions. 她的主要工作就是给大夫开的药方配药。