President Obama said Thursday that he will support any policy changes by his Republican successor that improve the existing healthcare system, which President-elect Trump has vowed to overhaul.
“Trump says that he can improve the health system. I believe that if he is able to insure the same number of people — better than I am — I would support this,” Obama told German television station ARD during his final visit to Berlin as president.
Trump has promised to repeal Obama’s legacy healthcare law during the first 100 days of his administration and replace it with an alternative that promotes market competition and reins in rising insurance costs.
But in the days since his surprise election victory, Trump has hinted at preserving aspects of Obamacare. He told The Wall Street Journal last week that he would consider retaining the provision that prohibits insurers from denying coverage to individuals with pre-existing conditions, and language that allows young adults remain on their parents’ plans until age 26.
“I like those very much,” Trump told the Journal.
Obama blasted congressional Republicans this week over their eagerness to kill his healthcare law, and described it as the “holy grail” for the GOP. The president simultaneously challenged his political opponents to develop a replacement that would not cause millions of Americans to lose their insurance coverage.
“My view is that if they can come up with something better that actually works, and a year or two after they’ve replaced the Affordable Care Act with their own plan, that 25 million people have health insurance, and it’s cheaper and better and running smoothly, I’ll be the first one to say, that’s great — congratulations,” the president told reporters on Monday.
