Senate Republicans are expected to include a repeal of the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act into its overhaul of the tax code, reviving a healthcare fight that appeared to be dead following an intense public backlash against the plan earlier this year.
President Donald Trump on Monday urged Republicans to end the ACA’s individual mandate, which requires nearly everyone to have health insurance that meets minimal standards.
Repeal of the individual mandate would help with the math involved with the Republican tax plan, but eliminating it risks having more Americans without health insurance.
“I’m pleased the Senate Finance Committee has accepted my proposal to repeal the Obamacare individual mandate in the tax legislation,” said Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, according to the New York Times. “Repealing the mandate pays for more tax cuts for working families and protects them from being fined by the IRS for not being able to afford insurance that Obamacare made unaffordable in the first place.”
The elimination of the ACA mandate does help the Republican tax plan be protected from a Democratic filibuster. As the Times points out, the tax bill cannot add more than $1.5 trillion to the federal budget without facing a likely Democratic filibuster. Repealing the mandate would free up $300 billion over the next decade.
On Monday, Trump floated the idea of getting rid of the mandate in a tweet.
“I am proud of the Rep. House & Senate for working so hard on cutting taxes {& reform.} We’re getting close! Now, how about ending the unfair & highly unpopular Indiv Mandate in OCare & reducing taxes even further? Cut top rate to 35% w/all of the rest going to middle income cuts?” Trump wrote.
I am proud of the Rep. House & Senate for working so hard on cutting taxes {& reform.} We’re getting close! Now, how about ending the unfair & highly unpopular Indiv Mandate in OCare & reducing taxes even further? Cut top rate to 35% w/all of the rest going to middle income cuts?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2017
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was “optimistic” the individual mandate repeal would be “helpful,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Republican tax plan is expected to be unveiled on Tuesday evening. Several efforts by Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act failed earlier this year.