Latest Fact-checks in Health Care Clear Any Rating True Mostly True Half True Mostly False False Pants on Fire Full Flop Half Flip No Flip Any Speaker Any Date Range Last 3 Months Last 6 Months Last 12 Months 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Any Category Howard Dean stated on September 13, 2009 in remarks on NBC's Meet the Press: "Every other democracy in the world has a health care system that covers everybody, and we don't." Thomas Sowell stated on September 8, 2009 in a column in Investor's Business Daily.: The Obama administration "was successful in rushing a massive spending bill through Congress in just two days — after which it sat on the president's desk for three days, while he was away on vacation." Paul Hipp stated on September 9, 2009 in a YouTube video: The U.S. ranks 37th in the world for health care. Charles Boustany stated on September 9, 2009 in response to President Obama's health care address to Congress: The Democratic health care bill in the House would "create 53 new government bureaucracies." John Boehner stated on September 10, 2009 in a statement from the Minority Leader's office: As a candidate, President Obama "declared that everyone deserves access to reproductive health care that includes abortion, and vowed that this 'right' would be at the heart of his health care reform plan if elected president." Chain email stated on August 24, 2009 in a message forwarded to many people: A new bill "was written into the new health care reform initiative ensuring that Congress will be 100 percent exempt." House Republican Conference stated on September 9, 2009 in a "myth and fact" news release: "Nothing in any of the Democrat bills would require individuals to verify their citizenship or identity prior to receiving taxpayer-subsidized benefits." Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to Congress: Health reform will "give every American the same opportunity" to buy health insurance the way members of Congress do. Joe Wilson stated on September 9, 2009 in the audience at a joint session of Congress: "You lie!" (in response to President Obama saying health reform would not insure illegal immigrants.) Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in an address to a joint session of Congress: "It’s a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight – Democrats and Republicans." Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to a joint session of Congress: "The claim ... that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens ... is a lie, plain and simple." Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to Congress: Preventive care "saves money." Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to Congress: If you "already have health insurance through your job, or Medicare, or Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have." Matt Miller stated on September 8, 2009 in a Washington Post op-ed: "Switzerland and the Netherlands . . . cover all their citizens using private insurers, and they do so for much less cost." John Carter stated on August 31, 2009 in a column by the Texas Republican on the Web site of the Christian Coalition of America: "The Obama Administration's own White House Council of Economic Advisers has estimated 4.7 million Americans will lose their jobs if the (health care) bill passes." Rush Limbaugh stated on August 28, 2009 in his radio program: The government is "going to have the right to get into your bank account with the health care bill and make transfers without you knowing it." Haley Barbour stated on August 13, 2009 in an op-ed in the Washington Examiner: "It took Obama six months to pick out a family dog," but he's "cramming health care reform down the country's throat in a fraction of that time." Organizing for America stated on September 1, 2009 in a fundraising e-mail: Over the past few months, we've learned that "we just can't count on the media to debunk" lies about health insurance reform. America's Health Insurance Plans stated on August 27, 2009 in CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight: "Every survey shows strong satisfaction with private coverage." Howard Dean stated on August 25, 2009 in an interview on the Rachel Maddow Show: "All the really great programs in American history, Social Security, was done without Republicans. Medicare was done without Republican support until the last vote where they realized they had to get on board." Anthony Weiner stated on August 25, 2009 in an interview on "Fox and Friends": "Under the plan, for the first five years your employer not only has to keep the coverage, but you can't migrate to the public plan." Barbara Boxer stated on August 10, 2009 in an interview with Rachel Maddow: "It's costing every American who is insured $1,100 to pick up the cost of uncompensated care that goes on at the emergency room." Rush Limbaugh stated on August 25, 2009 in a radio broadcast: "President Obama . . . wants to mandate circumcision." Tom Coburn stated on August 24, 2009 in Fox News Channel's On the Record With Greta Van Susteren: "Medicare has at least $80 billion worth of fraud a year. That's a full 20 percent of every dollar that's spent on Medicare goes to fraud." Ginny Brown-Waite stated on August 24, 2009 in a mailing: "Any government-run 'public' plan ... creates an entitlement that will cost another $1 trillion over the next 10 years." Ginny Brown-Waite stated on August 24, 2009 in a mailing: "Any government-run 'public' plan ... forces more employers to drop employee coverage due to rising costs and pay an additional 8% payroll tax for each worker." Michael Steele stated on August 25, 2009 in a Fox News interview: The Department of Veterans Affairs has "a manual out there telling our veterans stuff like, 'Are you really of value to your community?' You know, encouraging them to commit suicide." Howard Dean stated on August 9, 2009 in an appearance on ABC's "This Week": "There's no rationing in any of these bills." John Boehner stated on August 18, 2009 in a press release: The health bill's plan for comparative effectiveness research "would be used by the government to ration care." Barack Obama stated on August 20, 2009 in a forum with supporters: "If we went back to the obesity rates that existed back in the 1980s, the Medicare system over several years could save as much as a trillion dollars."
Clear Any Rating True Mostly True Half True Mostly False False Pants on Fire Full Flop Half Flip No Flip Any Speaker Any Date Range Last 3 Months Last 6 Months Last 12 Months 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Any Category
Howard Dean stated on September 13, 2009 in remarks on NBC's Meet the Press: "Every other democracy in the world has a health care system that covers everybody, and we don't." Thomas Sowell stated on September 8, 2009 in a column in Investor's Business Daily.: The Obama administration "was successful in rushing a massive spending bill through Congress in just two days — after which it sat on the president's desk for three days, while he was away on vacation." Paul Hipp stated on September 9, 2009 in a YouTube video: The U.S. ranks 37th in the world for health care. Charles Boustany stated on September 9, 2009 in response to President Obama's health care address to Congress: The Democratic health care bill in the House would "create 53 new government bureaucracies." John Boehner stated on September 10, 2009 in a statement from the Minority Leader's office: As a candidate, President Obama "declared that everyone deserves access to reproductive health care that includes abortion, and vowed that this 'right' would be at the heart of his health care reform plan if elected president." Chain email stated on August 24, 2009 in a message forwarded to many people: A new bill "was written into the new health care reform initiative ensuring that Congress will be 100 percent exempt." House Republican Conference stated on September 9, 2009 in a "myth and fact" news release: "Nothing in any of the Democrat bills would require individuals to verify their citizenship or identity prior to receiving taxpayer-subsidized benefits." Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to Congress: Health reform will "give every American the same opportunity" to buy health insurance the way members of Congress do. Joe Wilson stated on September 9, 2009 in the audience at a joint session of Congress: "You lie!" (in response to President Obama saying health reform would not insure illegal immigrants.) Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in an address to a joint session of Congress: "It’s a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight – Democrats and Republicans." Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to a joint session of Congress: "The claim ... that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens ... is a lie, plain and simple." Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to Congress: Preventive care "saves money." Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to Congress: If you "already have health insurance through your job, or Medicare, or Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have." Matt Miller stated on September 8, 2009 in a Washington Post op-ed: "Switzerland and the Netherlands . . . cover all their citizens using private insurers, and they do so for much less cost." John Carter stated on August 31, 2009 in a column by the Texas Republican on the Web site of the Christian Coalition of America: "The Obama Administration's own White House Council of Economic Advisers has estimated 4.7 million Americans will lose their jobs if the (health care) bill passes." Rush Limbaugh stated on August 28, 2009 in his radio program: The government is "going to have the right to get into your bank account with the health care bill and make transfers without you knowing it." Haley Barbour stated on August 13, 2009 in an op-ed in the Washington Examiner: "It took Obama six months to pick out a family dog," but he's "cramming health care reform down the country's throat in a fraction of that time." Organizing for America stated on September 1, 2009 in a fundraising e-mail: Over the past few months, we've learned that "we just can't count on the media to debunk" lies about health insurance reform. America's Health Insurance Plans stated on August 27, 2009 in CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight: "Every survey shows strong satisfaction with private coverage." Howard Dean stated on August 25, 2009 in an interview on the Rachel Maddow Show: "All the really great programs in American history, Social Security, was done without Republicans. Medicare was done without Republican support until the last vote where they realized they had to get on board." Anthony Weiner stated on August 25, 2009 in an interview on "Fox and Friends": "Under the plan, for the first five years your employer not only has to keep the coverage, but you can't migrate to the public plan." Barbara Boxer stated on August 10, 2009 in an interview with Rachel Maddow: "It's costing every American who is insured $1,100 to pick up the cost of uncompensated care that goes on at the emergency room." Rush Limbaugh stated on August 25, 2009 in a radio broadcast: "President Obama . . . wants to mandate circumcision." Tom Coburn stated on August 24, 2009 in Fox News Channel's On the Record With Greta Van Susteren: "Medicare has at least $80 billion worth of fraud a year. That's a full 20 percent of every dollar that's spent on Medicare goes to fraud." Ginny Brown-Waite stated on August 24, 2009 in a mailing: "Any government-run 'public' plan ... creates an entitlement that will cost another $1 trillion over the next 10 years." Ginny Brown-Waite stated on August 24, 2009 in a mailing: "Any government-run 'public' plan ... forces more employers to drop employee coverage due to rising costs and pay an additional 8% payroll tax for each worker." Michael Steele stated on August 25, 2009 in a Fox News interview: The Department of Veterans Affairs has "a manual out there telling our veterans stuff like, 'Are you really of value to your community?' You know, encouraging them to commit suicide." Howard Dean stated on August 9, 2009 in an appearance on ABC's "This Week": "There's no rationing in any of these bills." John Boehner stated on August 18, 2009 in a press release: The health bill's plan for comparative effectiveness research "would be used by the government to ration care." Barack Obama stated on August 20, 2009 in a forum with supporters: "If we went back to the obesity rates that existed back in the 1980s, the Medicare system over several years could save as much as a trillion dollars."
Howard Dean stated on September 13, 2009 in remarks on NBC's Meet the Press: "Every other democracy in the world has a health care system that covers everybody, and we don't."
Thomas Sowell stated on September 8, 2009 in a column in Investor's Business Daily.: The Obama administration "was successful in rushing a massive spending bill through Congress in just two days — after which it sat on the president's desk for three days, while he was away on vacation."
Paul Hipp stated on September 9, 2009 in a YouTube video: The U.S. ranks 37th in the world for health care.
Charles Boustany stated on September 9, 2009 in response to President Obama's health care address to Congress: The Democratic health care bill in the House would "create 53 new government bureaucracies."
John Boehner stated on September 10, 2009 in a statement from the Minority Leader's office: As a candidate, President Obama "declared that everyone deserves access to reproductive health care that includes abortion, and vowed that this 'right' would be at the heart of his health care reform plan if elected president."
Chain email stated on August 24, 2009 in a message forwarded to many people: A new bill "was written into the new health care reform initiative ensuring that Congress will be 100 percent exempt."
House Republican Conference stated on September 9, 2009 in a "myth and fact" news release: "Nothing in any of the Democrat bills would require individuals to verify their citizenship or identity prior to receiving taxpayer-subsidized benefits."
Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to Congress: Health reform will "give every American the same opportunity" to buy health insurance the way members of Congress do.
Joe Wilson stated on September 9, 2009 in the audience at a joint session of Congress: "You lie!" (in response to President Obama saying health reform would not insure illegal immigrants.)
Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in an address to a joint session of Congress: "It’s a plan that incorporates ideas from many of the people in this room tonight – Democrats and Republicans."
Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to a joint session of Congress: "The claim ... that we plan to set up panels of bureaucrats with the power to kill off senior citizens ... is a lie, plain and simple."
Barack Obama stated on September 9, 2009 in a speech to Congress: If you "already have health insurance through your job, or Medicare, or Medicaid, or the VA, nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have."
Matt Miller stated on September 8, 2009 in a Washington Post op-ed: "Switzerland and the Netherlands . . . cover all their citizens using private insurers, and they do so for much less cost."
John Carter stated on August 31, 2009 in a column by the Texas Republican on the Web site of the Christian Coalition of America: "The Obama Administration's own White House Council of Economic Advisers has estimated 4.7 million Americans will lose their jobs if the (health care) bill passes."
Rush Limbaugh stated on August 28, 2009 in his radio program: The government is "going to have the right to get into your bank account with the health care bill and make transfers without you knowing it."
Haley Barbour stated on August 13, 2009 in an op-ed in the Washington Examiner: "It took Obama six months to pick out a family dog," but he's "cramming health care reform down the country's throat in a fraction of that time."
Organizing for America stated on September 1, 2009 in a fundraising e-mail: Over the past few months, we've learned that "we just can't count on the media to debunk" lies about health insurance reform.
America's Health Insurance Plans stated on August 27, 2009 in CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight: "Every survey shows strong satisfaction with private coverage."
Howard Dean stated on August 25, 2009 in an interview on the Rachel Maddow Show: "All the really great programs in American history, Social Security, was done without Republicans. Medicare was done without Republican support until the last vote where they realized they had to get on board."
Anthony Weiner stated on August 25, 2009 in an interview on "Fox and Friends": "Under the plan, for the first five years your employer not only has to keep the coverage, but you can't migrate to the public plan."
Barbara Boxer stated on August 10, 2009 in an interview with Rachel Maddow: "It's costing every American who is insured $1,100 to pick up the cost of uncompensated care that goes on at the emergency room."
Rush Limbaugh stated on August 25, 2009 in a radio broadcast: "President Obama . . . wants to mandate circumcision."
Tom Coburn stated on August 24, 2009 in Fox News Channel's On the Record With Greta Van Susteren: "Medicare has at least $80 billion worth of fraud a year. That's a full 20 percent of every dollar that's spent on Medicare goes to fraud."
Ginny Brown-Waite stated on August 24, 2009 in a mailing: "Any government-run 'public' plan ... creates an entitlement that will cost another $1 trillion over the next 10 years."
Ginny Brown-Waite stated on August 24, 2009 in a mailing: "Any government-run 'public' plan ... forces more employers to drop employee coverage due to rising costs and pay an additional 8% payroll tax for each worker."
Michael Steele stated on August 25, 2009 in a Fox News interview: The Department of Veterans Affairs has "a manual out there telling our veterans stuff like, 'Are you really of value to your community?' You know, encouraging them to commit suicide."
Howard Dean stated on August 9, 2009 in an appearance on ABC's "This Week": "There's no rationing in any of these bills."
John Boehner stated on August 18, 2009 in a press release: The health bill's plan for comparative effectiveness research "would be used by the government to ration care."
Barack Obama stated on August 20, 2009 in a forum with supporters: "If we went back to the obesity rates that existed back in the 1980s, the Medicare system over several years could save as much as a trillion dollars."
