"Obamacare is collapsing," he said. "And we must act decisively to protect all Americans. Action is not a choice, it is a necessity."
If President Donald Trump was looking for approbation and applause in his first address to a joint session of Congress Feb. 28, he got it in spades.
"Tonight I am also calling on this Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare," Trump said. He was immediately interrupted with a standing ovation – from the Republican side of the aisle.
"With reforms that expand choice, increase access, lower costs, and at the same time, provide better healthcare," he continued once the applause subsided.
"Mandating every American to buy government-approved health insurance was never the right solution for our country," said Trump. "The way to make health insurance available to everyone is to lower the cost of health insurance, and that is what we are going to do."
Trump told the Congress that Obamacare premiums nationwide had increased by double and triple digits. As an example, Arizona went up 116 percent last year alone.
"Gov. Matt Bevin of Kentucky just said Obamacare is failing in his state and it's unsustainable and collapsing," he added. "One third of counties have only one insurer on the exchanges, leaving many Americans with no choice at all.
"Obamacare is collapsing," said Trump. "And we must act decisively to protect all Americans. Action is not a choice, it is a necessity."
[Also: John Boehner at HIMSS17: Most of the ACA's framework will stay in place]
He then called on Democrats and Republicans to work with the administration "to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster."
Trump's laid out five-point plan for repeal and replace:
- "First, we should ensure that Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to coverage, and that we have a stable transition for Americans currently enrolled in the healthcare exchanges.
- "Secondly, we should help Americans purchase their own coverage, through the use of tax credits and expanded Health Savings Accounts. But it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by the government.
- "Thirdly, we should give our state governors the resources and flexibility they need with Medicaid to make sure no one is left out.
- "Fourth, we should implement legal reforms that protect patients and doctors from unnecessary costs that drive up the price of insurance and work to bring down the artificially high price of drugs and bring them down immediately.
- "Finally, the time has come to give Americans the freedom to purchase health insurance across state lines, which will create a truly competitive national marketplace that will bring cost way down and provide far better care. So important."
Trump appealed to both political parties to work together.
"Our citizens deserve this, and so much more," he concluded. "So why not join forces to finally get it done? On this and so many other things, Democrats and Republicans should get together and unite for the good of our country, and for the good of the American people."
Twitter: @Bernie_HITN
Email the writer: bernie.monegain@himssmedia.com
