27M uninsured under Senate health care bill: report

By Ovunc Kutlu

NEW YORK

Senate Republicans' latest version of a health care bill to repeal Obamacare would leave 27 million American uninsured by 2020, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said Wednesday.

"The number of people who are uninsured would increase by 17 million in 2018, compared with the number under current law,” the CBO said. “That number would increase to 27 million in 2020 ... and then to 32 million in 2026.”

The 27 million uninsured in 2020 is 10 million more than the 22 million currently uninsured, who would not be covered by an initial Senate Republican bill.

Senate Republicans failed to find enough votes this week to pass their bill, after two more Republicans said they would vote against the measure.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said earlier Wednesday that a debate on repealing Obamacare would start as soon as next week in the Senate.

A health care bill that would replace former President Barack Obama’s signature heath care law still lacks enough votes to pass the Senate.

President Donald Trump urged Senate Republicans earlier Wednesday to find an agreement before Congress breaks for recess in August.