The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said this month that repealing Obamacare would cost about $350bn (£286bn) over the next decade.
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Paul’s proposed plan for replacing the federal health law includes numerous “best ideas” in other Republican plans but avoids “many of the pitfalls” that make those plans unworkable, reports National Review.
But experts warn that even if Congress takes a “repeal and delay” approach to dismantling the law – with some of the changes not taking effect for years – it could still result in major disruptions to the country’s individual health insurance market and strip millions of Americans of their health coverage.
Nine Republicans voted against the resolution in the House, including moderate Charlie Dent, who expressed “reservations” about repealing parts of Obamacare without a credible replacement at the ready. Republicans could strengthen provisions that encourage people to buy insurance or tighten rules that discourage people from signing up only when they are sick, for example. The Democrats argue the law has helped slow the growth in healthcare spending and brought health care coverage to the poor.
The resolution approved on Thursday instructs committees of the House and Senate to draft repeal legislation by January 27th.
“We need to be voting for a replacement plan at the same time that we vote for repeal”, said one of the group’s members, Representative Mark Meadows.
The resolution, passed in the early hours of Thursday in a 51-48 vote, now goes to the House of Representatives, which is expected to vote on it this week.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, unhappy that the measure endorsed huge budget deficits, was the sole Republican to vote against it.
Senate Democrats criticized the vote, noting the lack of a clear replacement for the healthcare program.
“It is no secret that Obamacare has not lived up to the promises made six years ago”, said Congressman Simpson. And President-elect Donald Trump said he would put forth his plan for repeal and replace after his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) is confirmed and in office.
“This is a critical first step toward delivering relief to Americans who are struggling under this law”, Ryan said. In both cases the action will permit the Republican-controlled Congress to slide the repeal action into a budget reconciliation bill thus making the action filibuster-proof.
The second part of his plan is to “build systems providing Americans with more choices of insurance that costs less” but that are not run out of Washington, Alexander explained.
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“[The Affordable Care Act] said to women of America, You can’t be charged more just because you’re a woman”.
