President Obama in his news conference last night tried to demystify a bit of the complexity about health policy and financing, to show why we need health reform to return to long-term economic prosperity.

But the bottom line, Obama stressed, is simple. Health insurance reform is good for America. And it's good for Americans.

Obama talked about deficits and delivery systems but he also addressed the American people at a personal level. For those wondering, "what's in it for me," the answer is "a lot."

If somebody told you that there is a plan out there that is guaranteed to double your healthcare costs over the next 10 years, that's guaranteed to result in more Americans losing their health care, and that is by far the biggest contributor to our federal deficit, I think most people would be opposed to that. Well, that's the status quo. That's what we have right now. So if we don't change, we can't expect a different result.

Health reform, Obama said, is about Americans having one less thing to worry about if they ever lose their jobs.

Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage, if they become too sick or lose their job or change their job....It will give you the security of knowing that if you lose your job, if you move, or if you change your job, you'll still be able to have coverage.

Reform, he said, is about keeping well -- without going broke.

It will cover preventive care, like check-ups and mammograms, that save lives and money.

Reform is about having peace of mind, "security and stability," from knowing that when you pay your insurance premiums when you are healthy, your insurance will pay for your care if you get sick. And you'll be able to get coverage even if you've been sick in the past.

It'll prevent insurance companies from dropping your coverage if you get too sick.

It will limit the amount your insurance company can force you to pay for your medical costs out of your own pocket.

No insurance company will be allowed to deny you coverage because of a preexisting medical condition.

It's about patient choice, options and satisfaction.

It will keep government out of health care decisions, giving you the option to keep your insurance if you're happy with it ... If you don't have health insurance, or you're a small business looking to cover your employees, you'll be able to choose a quality affordable health plan through a health insurance exchange, in a marketplace that promotes choice and competition.

Health reform is about helping our economy get well too.

I've also pledged that health-insurance reform will not add to our deficit over the next decade, and I mean it ... I continue to insist that health reform not be paid for on the backs of middle-class families.

In short, it's about all of us, our well-being, and our future:

This is about every family, every business and every taxpayer who continues to shoulder the burden of a problem that Washington has failed to solve for decades.

This debate is not a game for these Americans, and they can't afford to wait any longer for reform. They're counting on us to get this done. They're looking to us for leadership, and we can't let them down.

We will pass reform that lowers cost, promotes choice and provides coverage that every American can count on, and we will do it this year.