Jeb Bush offers plan to repeal, replace ObamaCare
MIAMI -- Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is unveiling a proposal Tuesday in Manchester, New Hampshire to repeal and replace ObamaCare with a plan that would increase tax credits for people, allowing them to buy coverage protection against "high-cost medical events."
But the two-page proposal, which would give more power to states to regulate health insurance, contained no specific details on how many people could be left without coverage. It does, however, guarantee coverage for people with pre-existing health conditions, which is part of President Obama's 974-page federal health law.
The Bush campaign says the former Florida governor's plan would accomplish three goals: promote innovation, lower costs and return power to states.
In a statement, the Bush campaign slammed ObamaCare, saying it "epitomizes why Americans are fed up with Washington."
"Jeb believes we must repeal Obamacare and offer a conservative vision and plan of health care for the future," said Allie Brandenburger, a Bush spokesperson.
Under Bush's plan, people could receive higher tax credits for purchasing health insurance and would be allowed higher contribution limits on health savings accounts for out-of-pocket expenses. He also would overhaul the regulations imposed by the Food and Drug Administration to help spur innovation in the health care industry and would put limits on malpractice lawsuits. And Bush would cap federal payments to states and create a "transition plan" for 17 million people "entangled" in Obama's Affordable Care Act.
Under his plan, the tax-free status of employer-provided health insurance would be limited, an idea labor unions fiercely oppose.
Bush and his GOP presidential rivals are united in their calls for repealing the Affordable Care Act, but they have been unable to find agreement on what should replace it.
At the same time, the Supreme Court ruled in June that millions of people could continue receiving subsidies in order to purchase healthcare plans, upholding a key aspect of the law. Congressional efforts to repeal and replace the law also have not yet been successful.
Experts say any plan to repeal the federal mandates and reduce insurance subsidies under the current law would increase the number of uninsured.
The number of people without health insurance coverage declined to 33 million in 2014, down from 42 million in 2013, according to the latest Census figures.