U.S. Senate Approves Initial Steps to Repeal 'ObamaCare'

On Thursday, January 12, the U.S. Senate took the first practical step to repeal and replace the healthcare plan established during Barack Obama's presidency, known as 'ObamaCare', by voting to create key committees for drafting a new legislative proposal. The plan was approved in the Senate with 51 votes in favor and 48 against, and it has now been sent to the House of Representatives for a vote. According to Reuters, Republican representatives in Congress say the process of repealing 'ObamaCare' could take 'months', and implementing and developing a new plan may require even more time. Nevertheless, Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, has urged representatives to vote to repeal Obama's insurance plan 'as soon as possible' and simultaneously introduce an alternative plan. Mr. Trump emphasized that 'any delay in this matter is unacceptable'. The healthcare system approved at the end of Barack Obama's administration is considered one of the main 'legacies' of his eight years in office. Mr. Obama has repeatedly defended this plan, stating in his last speech that it provides insurance for 20 million citizens. Critics among Republicans argue that the healthcare services are inefficient. These politicians have stated their intention to repeal the plan 'without cutting services' for those covered by it while simultaneously working on a replacement system. Democrats, on the other hand, have warned that repealing this healthcare plan could lead to 'chaos for millions' who are covered by it. Replacing Obama's healthcare plan with another insurance plan was among the key points of Donald Trump's election campaign. It is also mentioned in Mr. Trump's contract for the first 100 days of his presidency that 'this will be stopped'.