By Aldgra Fredly
Contributing Writer
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he is not inclined to extend the Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies, which are set to lapse on Dec. 31.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he doesn’t favor a two-year extension of ACA subsidies, also known as Obamacare subsidies, but acknowledged that some extension could be necessary to work through legislative matters.
The health coverage program had been a major flashpoint in the recent federal government shutdown, with Democrats demanding an extension.
“I don’t want to extend them for two years. I’d rather not extend them at all,” Trump said.
“Some kind of extension may be necessary to get something else done, because the un-Affordable Care Act has been a disaster.”
Trump also noted that negotiations with Democrats are ongoing over alternative health care plans, but declined to specify which lawmakers are involved.
“But you know, they are negotiating with me, it’s very interesting. They want to see something happen,” Trump said.
“I can’t tell you who, but a lot of Democrats want this plan to happen. They would love to see the money go to the people and the people go out and get their own health care.”
When asked whether his administration would roll out a health care plan, Trump said they were looking into “different alternatives,” adding that he would prefer to provide funds directly to Americans rather than direct money to insurance companies.
“I like my plan the best. Don’t give any money to the insurance companies, give it to the people directly. Let them go out and buy their own health care plan. And we’re looking at that, if that can work. We’re looking at that. That’s sort of taking off,” he said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to multiple news outlets on Tuesday that Trump was not considering “a straight two-year subsidy extension.”
Leavitt noted that Trump has been discussing the issue with “members of his administration, members of Congress, and private sector experts,” but she did not provide details.
The ACA is a health care reform law enacted in 2010 by President Barack Obama. It regulates the health insurance industry, mandating insurance for most Americans while providing subsidies for low-income recipients.
A disagreement had arisen between Democrats and Republicans over the Republican-controlled Congress’s reluctance to include the ACA in the emergency funding bill, which is set to expire at the end of the year.
Stuart Liess and Reuters contributed to this report.
