Obama Says Lower Costs Aren't Seen In Health Care

Obama Says Social Security Recipients Need Protection From Rising Health Costs

(AP)  Even though consumer prices have fallen in the past year, President Barack Obama says that's not the case for health care costs.

Obama says that's one reason he wants people on Social Security to get a $250 payment to make up for the lack of an increase in their benefits next year.

Obama told a town hall meeting in New Orleans on Thursday that his health care reform plan will also help protect seniors and others from rising health care costs _ so that over the long term, those costs won't be rising more quickly than Social Security.

The president says nonpartisan analysts have found that health care reform would lower costs "across the board," partly by eliminating inefficiency.