What Donald Trump Said About Obamacare During His Speech to Congress

Donald Trump addresses a joint session of the U.S. Congress on February 28, 2017 in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Getty)

Donald Trump addresses a joint session of the U.S. Congress on February 28, 2017 in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Getty)

During his speech before Congress on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump outlined a few of his ideas for replacing Obamacare while not getting into many specifics about the Affordable Care Act’s successor.

President Trump stated in his speech that Obamacare is a failure and that Republicans and Democrats need to come together to pass something better.

He then outlined five elements that the new health care law must focus on. First, he said that Americans with pre-existing conditions must have access to coverage, and that there is a stable transition between the two laws.

Secondly, Trump said that the federal government should help Americans purchase coverage by giving them tax credits and by expanding Health Savings Accounts.

“But it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by the government,” Trump said.

Thirdly, Trump said that state governors should be given the “resources and flexibility” they need with Medicaid.

Next, the president said that legal reforms should be implemented that “protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the cost of insurance, and work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs and bring them down immediately.” This statement earned a standing ovation from both Democrats and Republicans.

Lastly, Trump said that Americans should be allowed to purchase insurance across state lines.

Everything Trump mentioned about Obamacare this evening had previously been discussed during his presidential campaign. The details of his administration’s replacement for the law have not yet been released.