President Obama says no to step-by-step process

At the President's Health Care Summit, some Republicans suggested scrapping the health care reform bill the Democrats drew up behind closed doors, and take a more incremental approach to health care reform. Here's what the President had to say about that idea, via the Washington Post:

"The reason we didn't do it is because it turns out that baby steps don't get you to the place where people need to go. They need help right now."

Yet the President's plan won't take effect for four years. How is that helping people right now?