12 Democratic Lawmakers Who Said You Could Keep Your Health Insurance If You Liked It

President Barack Obama admitted Thursday that his oft-repeated promise that people could keep their private insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act “ended up not being accurate.”

He also said he was not the only lawmaker to make this promise.

“There are a bunch of folks up in Congress and others who made this statement and they were entirely sincere about it,” Obama said. “The fact that you’ve got this percentage of people who have had (their insurance canceled), I want them to know that, you know, their senator or congressman, they were making representations based on what I told them and what this White House and our administration told them. So it’s not on them, it’s on us."

And he’s right: At least 58 Democratic representatives have promised since Obama was inaugurated in 2009 alone that Americans could keep their private plans under the Affordable Care Act, something that hasn't exactly proven to be the case.

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) compiled a list of Democratic House members who promised the American people that they would be able to keep their insurance under Obamacare:

1. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.)

Image source: castor.house.gov

“…If you like your health insurance, you can keep it. Keep your current doctor as you see fit.”

She also said in a statement: “Nothing in this bill will force you to drop your current coverage. Rest assured, if you like your health insurance, you can keep it.”

2. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.)

Image source: conyers.house.gov

“Your premiums and other costs will not increase as a result of health care reform and if you like the coverage you have now, you’ll be able to keep it. In fact, you’ll get some additional help paying for premiums and out-of-pocket costs.”

3. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.)

Image source: ellison.house.gov

“If you like the insurance you have, you can keep it. Don’t listen to that stuff you heard in the last hour, Mr. Speaker. The truth is, you get to keep your health insurance if that’s what you want.”

4. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.)

Image source: hoyer.house.gov

"We need to build upon the current system of employer-sponsored care, with a system that provides patients their choice of insurance coverage and their choice of doctors. In other words, if you like what you have, you should be able to keep it."

5. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.)

Image source: hankjohnson.house.gov

“It is important to note that nothing will change for those who are happy with the insurance they already have from their employer, seniors on Medicare, TRICARE or people on Medicaid.”

6. Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.)

Image source: kennedy.house.gov

“If you have job-based health insurance you like, it is not necessary to change your plan. You may be able to change to Marketplace coverage if you prefer. Any job-based health plan you currently have qualifies as minimum essential coverage.”

7. Rep. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.)

Image source: levin.house.gov

“If you like your current health plan, you will be able to keep it. But it is clear that our nation wants us to fix what’s not working by reducing costs, increasing prevention, improving quality, and covering uninsured Americans."

8. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)

Image source: johnlewis.house.gov

“This bill does not replace employer-sponsored coverage, it actually adds to the choices people have. If people like their insurance, they can keep it.”

9. Rep. Frank Palone (D-N.J.)

Image source: pallone.house.gov

“Our health plan fulfills commitments made by this Congress and President Obama to reform health care. The plan … Keeping your doctor and your plan if you like them.”

10. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.)

Image source: rangel.house.gov

“This plan tells every American – if you have coverage and a doctor you like, keep it.”

11. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.)

Image source: wassermanschultz.house.gov

“Let me be clear: if you like your current plan, you’ll be able to keep it. Rather, we will build on our current system, so we can give you the freedom to choose what works best for you and your family. If you like your doctor, keep your doctor. If you like your current plan, keep your current plan. If you don’t, or if you don’t have one, then get one that works for you.”

12. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.)

Image source: waxman.house.gov.

“If you like your doctor and your current plan, you keep them. But we fundamentally reform the insurance company practices that are failing our families.”

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This post has been updated.

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