this is Joe Biden.

I want to wish you all a Happy New Year.

I know this is the time of year when we make

resolutions to take care of our health, whether

it's joining a gym or eating healthier.

But there's one thing you can do right now that will

also make a big difference in your health:

that is getting quality, affordable health

insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

Because of that law, access to quality

health care is improving.

Last year, almost 7 million people signed

up for health care coverage under the new law

and paid their premiums.

And in many cases the cost of health care is less

than the cost of your cell phone or your cable bill.

In addition, millions more are getting the care

that they need through Medicaid that

they weren't getting before.

And because of the new law, people who already

had health insurance are also benefitting from

additional protections.

For example, their insurance companies

can't deny them coverage because of pre-existing

conditions, like asthma or diabetes.

And they're able to get -- for free -- preventive

services like mammograms or blood pressure

screenings that their doctors ordered for them,

saving them a lot of money.

Everyone is beginning to realize what millions

of you already know -- the

Affordable Care Act is working.

And we're just getting started.

Because there are millions more of you who can

get quality, affordable health care if you sign up before

February 15th of this year.

That's now through February 15th.

Now if you don't have insurance, you can

go to HealthCare.gov, where you'll find a menu

of a bunch of different plans and what each plan covers

and how much each plan costs.

All you have to do is just pick one.

The best one that fits your family's health care

needs and your family's budget.

If you don't want to go to HealthCare.gov and you

want to talk to somebody on the phone instead,

you can call, I'm going to give you the number now,

you can call 1-800-318-2596.

From this moment on, you can call any time of the

day, any day of the week.

Phone lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

And for folks listening today whose family

and friends may not speak English:

let them know that there are translators available

in over 150 language to guide them through the process.

And if you're not comfortable going online

or speaking on the phone, and you want to sit down

with an individual to help you through this, you can

find out where to go as well.

Because in every community, at local

libraries or community health centers, people

are there to help.

All you have to do is go on HealthCare.gov,

type in where you live, and you can find out exactly where

to go to sit down with a person who will help

you walk through the process.

But here's the really important point

I want to make.

If you don't sign up by February 15th of this year

-- with only a very few exceptions -- if you don't

sign up by the 15th of this year, you're going

to have to wait until 2016 to get health insurance

through the Affordable Care Act.

And even those of you who already have

health insurance through the Affordable Care Act,

you can also go on HealthCare.gov to find

a plan that might offer more benefits or be more

affordable in price for you.

You might even qualify for additional help paying for

the insurance you choose because your income

isn't what it was last year.

Now I'm sure some of you already heard from your

friends and neighbors who've signed up for

health insurance under the Affordable Care Act what

I hear all around the country.

I hear it provides peace of mind that someone you

love will be covered if God-forbid something happens.

It provides security, so if you have a bad strain

in your ankle or your back and you don't have the

money to get treatment, you can now get the

treatment rather than wait, put it off,

and end up with a chronic condition.

And it provides a lot of freedom, and choice,

and opportunity -- so you can switch jobs or move

to another city without the fear that you'll lose out

on the health insurance with the company

you now have it with.

And what I'm hearing most is how pleased

and excited people are about how affordable it is.

An awful lot of people who didn't think they could

or would find quality, affordable

health insurance are actually able to get assistance

from the government to help them pay for their

health care plans at a cheaper rate.

Let me give you an example.

A family of four with an income of around $95,000,

they can still get a subsidy to lower their

health care premiums.

But maybe most importantly, what I hear

is that we have finally ended the debate in this

country of whether or not health insurance

is a right or a privilege.

We think everyone in America has a right

to have adequate health care insurance.

And the Affordable Care Act gives them that right.

So sign up.

And spread the word.

Protect your health -- not only for your sake,

but for the sake of your families.

Thanks for listening, and Jill and I wish you again

a happy and healthy New Year.

God bless you, and may God protect our troops.