During a stop in Rocky Mount, N.C. on Tuesday, former president Bill Clinton defended the Affordable Care Act after news broke that premiums will rise, MSNBC reports.
"Let's talk about healthcare," Clinton said. "All the headlines are full of the stories that average premiums are going up 22 percent. But the sub-headline is, if you're in the healthcare program, your subsidies are going up too so the increases won't be as much.
"So you've got one proposal, her opponent, just repeal it and go back to the way it used to be," he continued, referring to his wife Hillary Clinton's Republican rival, Donald Trump.
"That's a terrible idea. More than 20 million people would lose their health insurance. Families that can now insure their kids up to age 26 wouldn't be able to do it anymore and 100 percent of Americans would be worse off because you today cannot deny someone coverage based on a preexisting condition. We do not want to get rid of that."
"So, what would a country that was interested in being stronger together do? You'd keep what's good about the law and attack the problems," the former president added. "She's the only person you can vote for that wants to do that. He just says I want to repeal this law trust me on the rest. Look, what are the problems with the law, we can all tick them off right. The copays, deductibles and premiums are too high and the drug prices are too high."
Trump addressed Obamacare that same day during an appearance on Fox News.
"I don't use much Obamacare, I must be honest with you, because it is so bad for the people and they can't afford it. And like, for instance, I'm at Trump National Doral in Miami," Trump said, referencing his earlier visit where he spoke about the ACA.
"And we don't even use Obamacare. We don't want it. The people don't want it, and I spend more money on health coverage, but we don't use it. So you know, when they interviewed those people, they're happy with their health coverage."