A Democratic senator thinks Republicans don’t know what they’re getting themselves into by promising to repeal Obamacare next month once President-elect Trump takes office.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said on CNN Tuesday that GOP lawmakers have no idea how to replace the Affordable Care Act after it’s repealed.
“The Republicans are terrified of actually repealing Obamacare because so many elements are quite popular,” Merkley said. “The idea that you can get insurance even if you have a pre-existing condition, the fact that children can stay on your policy until age 26, the investment in prevention is so much smarter than treating diseases down the road. All these elements really resonate.”
Merkley said the GOP is already backing down on its promises to immediately repeal the healthcare law because it realizes Americans would fight back.
“Now, Republicans are saying we’re going to repeal it but we’re going to make that come into effect three years from now because we know there’s going to be a big backlash from Americans,” he said.
While many people don’t like the idea of government-run healthcare, Merkley said Obamacare is more popular than advertised because it allows people to purchase plans through private providers.
That makes healthcare available to people who might otherwise be shut out, such as low-income people with children, he said. Merkley added that people in rural parts of Oregon have noticed a huge impact on their lives since Obamacare was passed.
“This is a profound impact on folks in America who have very modest incomes, who finally have the peace of mind that they have access to healthcare when they need it, and their children will be able to access it,” he said.
