House Republicans have unveiled a long-anticipated plan to dismantle and replace the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama’s signature health care achievement, that includes scrapping a requirement for individuals to purchase health insurance. The cost of the proposed bill, dubbed The American Health Care Act, is still uncertain, but the measure will undoubtedly reduce the number of those insured, a central goal of the ACA, better known as Obamacare.
The bill was released Monday night by top Republicans on the two House committees that oversee health care after more than two months of crafting that involved White House officials. The bill delivers on a promise made by top Republicans for years and then-candidate Donald Trump that repealing and replacing Obamacare would be priority number one.
“Skyrocketing premiums, soaring deductibles, and dwindling choices are not what the people were promised seven years ago,” House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement. “It’s time to turn a page and rescue our health care system from this disastrous law. “The American Health Care Act is a plan to drive down costs, encourage competition, and give every American access to quality, affordable health insurance,” Ryan said.
He said the bill would protect patients with pre-existing conditions and would offer a stable transition for those currently enrolled in insurance on state-run Obamacare exchanges. Trump marked the release of the proposed bill with a tweet, saying “Time to end this nightmare.”
