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Trump wants to 'repeal and replace' the Affordable Care Act, quickly
Following the Republican playbook, Donald Trump promised as president to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to replace it with something that emphasizes free market principles.
"Real change begins with immediately repealing and replacing the disaster known as Obamacare," Trump said at a Nov. 7, 2016, rally in Michigan.
Currently, 20 million people have health insurance under President Barack Obama's signature law, and the uninsured rate is below 9 percent, a record low. Repealing and replacing Obamacare would require lawmakers to figure out whether they will cover those people, and if so, how.
WHY HE'S PROMISING IT
The Affordable Care Act isn't popular. Polling conducted in 2016 shows that Americans are divided on the law.
And the law has some problems. Despite provisions aimed at curbing rising health care costs, premiums for plans on HealthCare.gov are expected to go up an average of 22 percent in 2017. Insurance companies have pulled out of the marketplaces in 29 states.
HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST
Trump has several policy ideas for what the health care law replacement should include. He suggests allowing providers to sell insurance across state lines, making it so individuals could deduct premium payments from their tax returns and requiring price transparency from health care providers. He also proposes block-granting Medicaid to the states and encouraging health savings accounts.
Trump's proposals could increase the uninsured population by 25 million people and increase the federal deficit by up to $41 billion, according to an independent analysis by the Commonwealth Fund and RAND .
WHAT'S STANDING IN HIS WAY
Republicans have tried and failed dozens of times to dismantle the law in the past. But now with a Republican president and control of both the House and Senate, repealing the law is a more achievable goal.
"It's a pretty high item on our agenda, as you know. And I would be shocked if we didn't move forward to keep our commitment to the American people," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at a Nov. 9, 2016, press conference.
However, Republican lawmakers haven't yet figured out exactly what the replacement will look like. They also face the possibility that Democrats will filibuster and block a full repeal.
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