Trump: ‘Dems must get smart and deal’ on health care

President Trump on Friday ripped Democrats critical of his move to end key payments to insurers selling ObamaCare plans, saying lawmakers from the opposing party must “get smart & deal.”

“Money pouring into Insurance Companies profits, under the guise of ObamaCare, is over. They have made a fortune. Dems must get smart & deal!” Trump wrote on Twitter.

“ObamaCare is causing such grief and tragedy for so many. It is being dismantled but in the meantime, premiums & deductibles are way up!” he added in another tweet.

Money pouring into Insurance Companies profits, under the guise of ObamaCare, is over. They have made a fortune.
Dems must get smart & deal!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2017 

ObamaCare is causing such grief and tragedy for so many. It is being dismantled but in the meantime, premiums & deductibles are way up!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2017

{mosads}

Trump’s comments came a day after the White House said the administration would end the disbursements to insurance companies, known as cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments.

The payments are aimed at helping low-income people afford co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs associated with health-insurance policies.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut off the payments, which have been made on a monthly basis. Critics condemned his move late Thursday to eliminate the funding, his most aggressive move yet to dismantle ObamaCare.

Some Republicans criticized the move, with Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) calling Trump’s decision “devastating” and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) saying the move does not lead to increased access to health insurance.

Eighteen states and Washington, D.C., filed lawsuit in federal court in California on Friday to block Trump from halting the payments, while Democratic leaders called for Congress to quickly move to restore the payments, potentially through must-pass legislation later this year.

Trump has made a push on health-care after GOP efforts to repeal ObamaCare failed this year. The president phoned Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) last Friday, saying he hoped to start a dialogue on health-care. Schumer later said that Trump wanted to make another push for ObamaCare repeal, which the Democratic leader said was “off the table.”

I called Chuck Schumer yesterday to see if the Dems want to do a great HealthCare Bill. ObamaCare is badly broken, big premiums. Who knows!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 7, 2017