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 Speaking on ABC's "This Week" program, Kellyanne Conway, counselor
to the president, said President Donald Trump "may stop enforcing
the individual mandate."
Separately, on CBS' "Face the Nation" show, she reiterated
Republican promises that no one would lose their health insurance
under Obamacare while a replacement is being developed.
"For the 20 million who rely upon the Affordable Care Act in some
form, they will not be without coverage during this transition
time," she said.
On Friday Trump signed an executive order concerning the 2010
healthcare law, urging U.S. agencies to "waive, defer, grant
exemptions from, or delay the implementation" of provisions deemed
to impose fiscal burdens on states, companies or individuals.
Healthcare experts had speculated that Trump could expand exemptions
from the individual mandate.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, speaking on "Fox News
Sunday," reiterated Republican promises to replace Obamacare and
allow patients to buy health insurance across state lines using
health savings accounts.
"We’re going to move carefully in conjunction with the
administration to repeal and replace it with things like health
savings accounts and interstate health insurance sales and high-risk
pools at the state level to take care of people who have
pre-existing conditions." he said.
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Last week Republican Representative Tom Price, Trump's nominee to
lead the Department of Health and Human Services, told the Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, that an overhaul
of Obamacare will initially focus on individual health plans sold on
online exchanges and the Medicaid health insurance program for
low-income Americans.
He added that the revamp would not immediately tackle changes to
Medicare, the federal health insurance program for those 65 and
older and people with disabilities.
Trump has said he wants to keep some elements of Obamacare, such as
allowing young adults to be covered under their parents' insurance.
He is in favor of plans that use health savings accounts and the
sale of insurance across state lines.
(Reporting by Jason Lange and Toni Clarke; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
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