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| House Republicans unveil Obamacare replacement plan | House Republicans unveil Obamacare replacement plan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Republicans' long-awaited plan to replace former US President Barack Obama's health law is facing opposition from members of their own party. | Republicans' long-awaited plan to replace former US President Barack Obama's health law is facing opposition from members of their own party. |
| House committees plan to begin voting on the legislation - which would repeal penalties for those who do not buy health insurance - on Wednesday. | House committees plan to begin voting on the legislation - which would repeal penalties for those who do not buy health insurance - on Wednesday. |
| But congressional Republicans have been saying the plan goes too far or doesn't go far enough. | But congressional Republicans have been saying the plan goes too far or doesn't go far enough. |
| Conservative critics have dismissed it as "Obamacare 2.0" or "Obamacare Lite". | Conservative critics have dismissed it as "Obamacare 2.0" or "Obamacare Lite". |
| The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, helped 20m previously uninsured Americans get health insurance. | The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, helped 20m previously uninsured Americans get health insurance. |
| However, increases in insurance premiums - which were also a problem before the health law - have irked many Americans. | However, increases in insurance premiums - which were also a problem before the health law - have irked many Americans. |
| Is Obamacare more popular than ever? | Is Obamacare more popular than ever? |
| Can Obamacare be repealed? | Can Obamacare be repealed? |
| What is the Republican plan? | What is the Republican plan? |
| The proposal unveiled on Monday would preserve some popular elements of the existing law, including allowing young people to remain on their parents' insurance plans until the age of 26. | The proposal unveiled on Monday would preserve some popular elements of the existing law, including allowing young people to remain on their parents' insurance plans until the age of 26. |
| The ban on insurers denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions would remain in place. | The ban on insurers denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions would remain in place. |
| But the plan is expected to cover fewer people than those who gained insurance under the Affordable Care Act. | But the plan is expected to cover fewer people than those who gained insurance under the Affordable Care Act. |
| While penalties for those who don't buy health insurance would be scrapped, those who let their coverage lapse could see their insurance premiums raised by 30%. | While penalties for those who don't buy health insurance would be scrapped, those who let their coverage lapse could see their insurance premiums raised by 30%. |
| The Republican legislation would limit future federal funding for Medicaid, which covers low-income people. | The Republican legislation would limit future federal funding for Medicaid, which covers low-income people. |
| It would also eliminate subsidies for those with modest incomes, replacing them with age-based tax credits to mitigate the cost of premiums. | It would also eliminate subsidies for those with modest incomes, replacing them with age-based tax credits to mitigate the cost of premiums. |
| House Speaker Paul Ryan said the bill would "drive down costs, encourage competition, and give every American access to quality, affordable health insurance". | House Speaker Paul Ryan said the bill would "drive down costs, encourage competition, and give every American access to quality, affordable health insurance". |
| What are Republican critics saying? | What are Republican critics saying? |
| Republican leaders are embarking on a bid to win their membership over to what President Donald Trump described in a tweet on Tuesday as "our wonderful new Healthcare Bill". | Republican leaders are embarking on a bid to win their membership over to what President Donald Trump described in a tweet on Tuesday as "our wonderful new Healthcare Bill". |
| But four Republican senators have already said the plan does not adequately protect low-income people who received Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act. | But four Republican senators have already said the plan does not adequately protect low-income people who received Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act. |
| They are Rob Portman of Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. | They are Rob Portman of Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. |
| Three other, conservative Republican senators have suggested the plan does not go far enough in abolishing Obamacare. | Three other, conservative Republican senators have suggested the plan does not go far enough in abolishing Obamacare. |
| They are Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas. | They are Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas. |
| Mr Paul tweeted: "This sure looks like Obamacare Lite!" | Mr Paul tweeted: "This sure looks like Obamacare Lite!" |
| Members of the House Freedom Caucus, a rump of about 30 hardliners, have also sounded sceptical. | Members of the House Freedom Caucus, a rump of about 30 hardliners, have also sounded sceptical. |
| Meanwhile, House Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz has been savaged on social media for saying Americans need to choose between a new smartphone and medical insurance. | Meanwhile, House Oversight Committee chairman Jason Chaffetz has been savaged on social media for saying Americans need to choose between a new smartphone and medical insurance. |
| He told CNN: "And so maybe, rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and they want to spend hundreds of dollars on, maybe they should invest in their own healthcare." | He told CNN: "And so maybe, rather than getting that new iPhone that they just love and they want to spend hundreds of dollars on, maybe they should invest in their own healthcare." |
| Here comes the tricky part - Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC Washington | |
| Congressional Republicans are in a bind. They've spent the last seven years promising to tear up Obamacare "root and branch", in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's words, but demolition is only half the job. | |
| They've got to find a replacement that satisfies hardliners who want a sharp break from the Democratic-supported status quo, moderates worried about taking away existing benefits from their constituents, fiscal hawks fearful of blowing a hole in the budget and - perhaps most importantly - President Donald Trump, who campaigned on preserving entitlements and improving coverage and care. | |
| Right now, the House Republican leadership has a draft bill that seems to make no one happy. If Democrats stay united in their opposition, it won't take many Republican defections to sink the whole deal. | |
| Republicans know they have to do something about healthcare. Lack of action could spark another conservative grass-roots revolt in 2018, endangering officeholders who worry more about primary challenges than general elections. | |
| There are those who would be happy blowing up the government-managed healthcare system and worrying about the pieces later. | |
| For the majority of Republicans, however, destruction is not a solution, it's a start. And what comes next is proving to be the tricky part. | |
| Can the new plan pass Congress? | Can the new plan pass Congress? |
| The Republican party has control of the both chambers of Congress and the White House. | The Republican party has control of the both chambers of Congress and the White House. |
| But they must tread carefully because the Affordable Care Act is popular in many states, including some governed by Republicans. | But they must tread carefully because the Affordable Care Act is popular in many states, including some governed by Republicans. |
| If the Republican plan loses any more than 20 members of their own caucus in the House it is unlikely to pass. | If the Republican plan loses any more than 20 members of their own caucus in the House it is unlikely to pass. |
| The Senate leadership can only afford to lose the support of two Republicans if they are to succeed in dismantling Obamacare by a simple majority. | The Senate leadership can only afford to lose the support of two Republicans if they are to succeed in dismantling Obamacare by a simple majority. |
| No Democrat on Capitol Hill is expected to vote for the new plan. Members of Mr Obama's party say the new legislation would leave many people uninsured. | No Democrat on Capitol Hill is expected to vote for the new plan. Members of Mr Obama's party say the new legislation would leave many people uninsured. |