Trump open to keeping parts of Obamacare

US President-elect Donald Trump said while he called during the campaign for the scrapping of Obamacare, he would like to retain two important previsions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), media reports said.

The Republican said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he would prefer to maintain the ACA's prohibition on health insurance companies refusing coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, as well as the option for children to stay on their parents' plan up to the age of 26, Efe news agency reported.

"I like those very much," he said.

Trump, in his first interview since defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, said that he was reconsidering his approach to the issue after discussing the ACA with President Barack Obama at the White House.

"I told him I will look at his suggestions, and out of respect, I will do that," the real estate mogul told the Journal.

"Either Obamacare will be amended, or repealed and replaced," he said.

Besides health care, Trump said his initial focus would be on the economy, mentioning the possibility of imposing tariffs on imports of goods from US companies that outsource production to foreign countries.

The president-elect likewise said he would work to secure the border against undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs.

--IANS

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