President-elect Trump promised his replacement healthcare plan would have the goal of providing “insurance for everybody” and that drug companies would have to negotiate with the government on prices.
The Washington Post reported Sunday Trump didn’t provide many specifics in the interview but said the plan would be “much less expensive and much better” and would be “great healthcare.” He also stated it wouldn’t be a single-payer system.
“We’re going to have insurance for everybody,” Trump said. “There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can’t pay for it, you don’t get it. That’s not going to happen with us.”
His plan to ensure everyone has healthcare and the direct involvement of the government in negotiating drug prices for Medicare and Medicaid would likely rankle congressional Republicans whose major objection to the Affordable Care Act is that the government is too involved in the market.
Repealing the Affordable Care Act is the first major priority of the Republican Congress, and Trump has demanded it be replaced on the same day, possibly in the same hour.
Trump reported his plan for repealing Obamacare is almost finished, and he wants to reveal it to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“It’s very much formulated down to the final strokes. We haven’t put it in quite yet but we’re going to be doing it soon,” Trump said.
Trump’s announcement of his intention to unveil an Obamacare replacement is the second such announcement in two days. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul unveiled portions of his plan to replace the Affordable Care Act Sunday on CNN after teasing its release Saturday evening. He plans to give more details later this week.
Trump is confident his plan will get through Congress.
“I think we will get approval. I won’t tell you how, but we will get approval. You see what’s happened in the House in recent weeks,” he said.
Trump added that he expects quick movement from Republican lawmakers.
“The Congress can’t get cold feet because the people will not let that happen,” Trump told The Post.
