Washington, D.C. (CNN) — The Republican health care bill to replace Obamacare is finally out there for everyone to read.
The plan received a strong endorsement from President Trump, but it faces skeptics from both the left and the right.
The Republican vision for the future of health care promises to make coverage cheaper and more accessible.
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the architect of the GOP plan, says it’s simple. “The American Health Care Act transfers power from Washington back to the American people.”
To do that, the republican bill would:
- Provide refundable tax credits based on age and income
- Lifts taxes that obamacare had imposed on drug companies and the wealthy
- Repeal the individual mandate requiring people to buy insurance
- Loosen rules to allow carriers to offer more policies.
President Trump is on board with the plan, tweeting, “Our wonderful new healthcare bill is now out for review and negotiation. Obamacare is a complete and total disaster – is imploding fast!
Tom Price, Health and Human Services Secretary said, “The president and the administration support this step that is in the right direction, that appeals Obamacare and moves us in the right direction.
On one side — there’s plenty of push back from democrats, who argue the GOP plan will leave millions uninsured.
On the other, some Republican lawmakers are calling the bill “Obamacare lite.”
Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul said, “The bill that’s been introduced is Obamacare lite and conservatives across the country aren’t going to accept it.”
This was Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) on CNN Tuesday morning: “Americans have choices. And so maybe, rather than go getting that new iPhone that they just love and they want to spend hundreds of dollars on? Maybe they should invest in their own health care.”
Two house committees plan to start reviewing the bill this week.
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