The media was congratulating Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-TN, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA, for their “bipartisan” health care deal. But don’t break out the champagne just yet. Trump has said no deal — yet.
“In order for the White House to support similar legislation, it must provide immediate benefits to American families, workers, and small businesses,” a White House official said in an email. “These benefits should include relief from the individual and employer mandates; an expansion of affordable coverage options, such as the ones referenced in last week’s executive order; a greater ability for middle-income families to control their healthcare dollars; and meaningful flexibility for states to allow their residents to escape onerous Obamacare requirements.”
The details suggest that President Trump has not fully closed the door on supporting an Obamacare stabilization bill, though he said earlier in the day that he did not support the current draft.
The employer mandate requires that employers provide health insurance if they have more than 50 full-time employees, a mandate that small businesses find onerous. Its implementation has been delayed before, under former President Barack Obama.
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