Repeal, then replace: Donald Trump on Obamacare replacement bill
US President Donald Trump has a new idea on the Republican Obamacare replacement bill that hasn't been able to garner consensus yet. "If Republican Senators are unable to pass what they're working on now, they should immediately REPEAL, and then REPLACE at a later date!" he tweeted. The move might harden splits within the GOP, with moderates protesting the bill and conservatives supporting it.
Republicans unveil Obamacare replacement bill in Senate, faces uncertain fate
On June 23, Republicans in the US Senate have unveiled a bill proposing to replace Obamacare with a healthcare plan that cuts aid to the poor and ends tax on the wealthy. President Donald Trump, who made replacing Obamacare a signature campaign promise, welcomed the bill but indicated it may need changes. The contentious bill faces opposition by all Democratic and some Republican lawmakers.
What the Senate bill entails
The Senate Republican proposal would eliminate crucial tenets of former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare. The proposal will reduce funding for women's reproductive health provider Planned Parenthood and significantly cut and restructure Medicaid, a program that provides health insurance to low-income and disabled Americans. An expected 23 million Americans will lose health insurance under the proposed bill.
US Senate Republicans delay healthcare bill vote over insufficient support
The US Republican party's seven-year efforts to get former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) repealed is on the verge of collapse. A vote on the Republicans' replacement healthcare bill has been delayed until after the Fourth of July holiday. This comes after the Republicans failed to gather sufficient votes to get the bill passed through Senate.
22mn Americans would lose health insurance under new bill
An estimated 22 million Americans are expected to be left without health insurance by 2026, if the Senate Republican bill passes, according to the Congressional Bill Office.
Why was the bill delayed?
Eight Republican Senators vowed to oppose the bill preventing the party from attaining the required majority for its passage. The bill has been opposed by moderate Republicans who feel the cuts proposed to the government-sponsored healthcare programmes would leave their constituents vulnerable. The conservative Republican dissenters feel the bill doesn't go far enough in replacing and repealing Obamacare.
Zero support from Democrats for the bill
Democrats, who have condemned the bill as a huge wealth transfer from the poor to the rich, aren't expected to support the bill. Senior Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi warned that if the bill passes, "hundreds of thousands" of Americans will die.
What this means for Trump
Repealing Obamacare was a signature campaign promise for US President Donald Trump. The delay in the Senate Republican healthcare bill vote marks a personal setback for Trump. After the bill delay, Trump invited some of the rebelling Republicans to cajole them into reconsidering their stance. He said the Republicans are "very close" to resolving their concerns regarding cuts in government programmes.
