Trump’s 5 Principles for Repealing and Replacing Obamacare

President Donald Trump called on Congress on Tuesday evening to repeal and replace Obamacare — and outlined six principles for a new health care system, including some of the more politically popular elements of his predecessor’s signature domestic policy.

He laid out his five principles — preexisting conditions, Health Savings Accounts, Medicaid flexibility, tort reform, and insurance across state lines — in an address to a joint special session of Congress.

Trump said (emphasis added):

Here are the principles that should guide the Congress as we move to create a better healthcare system for all Americans:

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. [Applause]

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 our Government. [Applause]

Thirdly, we should give our State Governors the resources and flexibility they need with Medicaid to make sure no one is left out. [Applause]

Fourthly, 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. [Applause]

And finally, the time has come to give Americans the freedom to purchase health insurance across state lines –-  [Applause] –- which will create a truly competitive national marketplace that will bring cost way down and provide far better care.

He concluded: “Everything that is broken in our country can be fixed.  Every problem can be solved.  And every hurting family can find healing, and hope.”

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. He was named one of the “most influential” people in news media in 2016. His new book, How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.