North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper cautioned on Tuesday that any effort to revoke Obamacare would thwart his hard-won endeavor to extend Medicaid coverage to 600,000 people in his state — a program set to initiate Friday.
Mr. Cooper, a Democrat, cited the example in his swing state to criticize former President Donald Trump over his renewed push to replace the Affordable Care Act. Over the weekend, the GOP front-runner said he is considering “serious alternatives” to President Barack Obama’s landmark 2010 law.
Mr. Cooper said Mr. Trump’s push would contradict the will of red and purple states opting to accept federal Obamacare funding to expand Medicaid eligibility to those making 138% of the federal poverty level.
The governor said he labored for years to expand the program in his state, which will award 16 electoral votes in the 2024 presidential election.
“We finally got the Republican Legislature to pass it,” Mr. Cooper said in a call arranged by President Biden’s campaign. “We’re seeing red states across the country voting for it, and now Donald Trump wants to blow it up without a serious alternative.”
The state Legislature approved the Medicaid expansion plan months ago, but delays in passing a budget plan pushed its launch date to Friday.
Mr. Cooper is among Democrats making political capital out of Mr. Trump’s weekend post on social media regarding replacing Obamacare.
Mr. Trump and Republican congressional majorities failed to revoke and replace Obamacare when they had the chance in 2017, although they did eliminate its individual-mandate penalty for lacking insurance.
Congressional Republicans largely abandoned their effort to replace the program, which offers subsidies for private insurance and expanded Medicaid in states that opt-in.
However, GOP lawmakers have criticized Mr. Biden for increasing taxpayer-funded subsidies for private insurance instead of addressing the economic drivers of high premiums on the program.
Mr. Trump, the Republican front-runner for president, wrote on Truth Social that it’s worth finding a replacement because “the cost of Obamacare is out of control, plus it’s not good health care.”
Mr. Cooper said Mr. Trump is adept at deciphering the desires of “conspiracy theorists” but not everyday Americans.
The governor highlighted a part of Obamacare that allows people to stay on their parent’s plan until they turn 26, saying it’s crucial to middle-class North Carolinians.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, said voters should take Mr. Trump’s repeal threat seriously.
“Believe him, because he’s done it before,” she said.
