Hours after celebrating with this Republican cronies about successfully passing an Obamacare repeal in the House, the president praised Australia’s healthcare system at a press conference. The problem? Australia has universal healthcare—something today’s Republicans would never go for. CNN reports:
Hours after scoring a victory in the House to effectively kill Obamacare, US President Donald Trump praised Australia's universal health care system during a press conference with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"It's going to be fantastic health care," Trump said, referring to his new health care plan. "I shouldn't say this to our great gentleman and my friend from Australia because you have better health care than we do."
For once, Trump isn’t lying. Australia covers a lot more people and is immensely more affordable. Its system, named Medicare, allows citizens to get free care from government-funded doctors and hospitals.
Australian residents are able to see doctors and optometrists, as well as receive some minor surgeries, usually
free of charge. The partial cost of pharmaceuticals is also covered under the separate Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Residents get hospital treatment at no charge, although you can't choose your doctor.
The peculiar timing of Trump’s compliments wasn’t lost on many Americans infuriated by yesterday’s Obamacare repeal passing the House.
Senator Bernie Sanders, a long-time advocate of universal healthcare, obviously had a few words for the president:
"Well Mr President, you're right, in Australia and every other major country on Earth they guarantee health care to all people. They don't throw 24 million people off health insurance. So maybe when we get to the Senate we should start off with looking at the Australian health care system," Sanders told CNN's Anderson Cooper.