GOP rep: No changes to ObamaCare this year, next year

Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) on Thursday said there will be no changes to ObamaCare in 2017 or 2018.

“Immediately, what we’re saying, is we’re not going to pull the rug out from under anyone. There’s not going to be any changes in 2017. There’s not going to be changes in 2018,” Collins, a member of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team, said on CNN.

“Those products have already been approved by the state insurance agencies, or for the 2018 time, are in negotiation right now,” he continued.

{mosads}”So we’re talking about new plans in 2019 or later that will be more affordable, let patients pick their doctors.”

Collins said it is important to make sure Americans are not “disadvantaged.”

“And that’s a promise we’ve made,” he said.

“We’re not going to pull the rug out from under anyone. There’s no reason to worry the next two years.”

Vice President-elect Mike Pence said Wednesday that he and Trump are working closely on their “first priority” of repealing the Affordable Care Act.

“The American people voted for change in November,” he told reporters at a weekly press conference normally reserved for Senate leadership. “We’re working very closely with the Senate leadership on a budget resolution.” 

The Senate is expected to vote next week, likely on a party-line vote, to approve the rules for repealing ObamaCare.

President Obama met Wednesday with Democrats and urged them to fight Republican efforts to repeal his signature healthcare legislation.