President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Democrats to work with Republicans in Congress to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which he claimed, yet again, is a “disaster.”
Trump’s request, which he made twice during his first address to Congress, came as he laid out five key measures he wants lawmakers to adopt in replacement legislation for Obamacare.
“Tonight, I am also calling on this Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare with reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower costs, and at the same time, provide better health care,” Trump said.
“Obamacare is collapsing — and we must act decisively to protect all Americans. Action is not a choice — it is a necessity.”
“So I am calling on all Democrats and Republicans in the Congress to work with us to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster,” Trump said.
Trump’s outline for replacing Obamacare included:
- Ensuring people with pre-existing health conditions are guaranteed “access” to health insurance, “and that we have a stable transition for Americans currently enrolled in the health-care exchanges.
- Giving people who buy their own health coverage tax credits and expanded health savings accounts to help pay for their coverage, as well as flexibility about the design of their plans.
- Give states “the resources and flexibility” in their Medicaid programs “to make sure no one is left out.” Medicaid covers primarily poor people.
- Legal reforms to protect doctors and patients “from unnecessary costs” that drive up insurance costs, and to bring down the price of high-cost drugs.
- Creating a national insurance marketplace that allows insurers to sell health plans across state lines.
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