House panels set for fight in Congress over replacing Obamacare

Washington

A POTENTIALLY lengthy US legislative fight over replacement of the Obamacare health law got under way on Wednesday as two House of Representatives committees begin negotiating over changes to a Republican plan backed by President Donald Trump.

Both Democrats and Republicans are expected to try to reshape legislation that dismantles key provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, Democratic former president Barack Obama's signature domestic policy achievement.

The Republican plan unveiled on Tuesday would scrap Obamacare's requirement that most Americans obtain medical insurance and replace its income-based subsides with a system of fixed tax credits of US$2,000 to US$4,000 to coax people to purchase private i…