美国有线新闻 CNN 特朗普签行政令削弱奥巴马医改法案

 

We've reported on how Republicans in the U.S. Congress have repeatedly tried to repeal¹ and replace Obamacare, also known as the Affordable² Care Act. It's a controversial health reform law that was passed by a Democratic-controlled Congress and signed by then-President Obama in 2010.

And though Republicans have been united in their opposition³ to it, those in the Senate have not been united on various plans to repeal it. They've fallen short several times of the votes they've needed to do that.

Yesterday, President Donald Trump⁴ took some steps on his own to weaken the law. He signed an executive order. One thing it does is direct the government to find ways for some businesses and possibly individual Americans to more easily team up and get health insurance in different states than the one they live in.

Why does that matter? Because they may be able to find cheaper health plans this way and save on the cost of health insurance.

President Trump says the order would cost the federal government virtually nothing and bring more affordable health insurance to millions of people.

Critics say the downside is that the lower costs could also mean fewer benefits, like less maternity⁵ care and prescription⁶ drug coverage⁷, and the concern that the people who stayed with Obamacare could see their prices rise.

Experts don't know yet how many people will be affected⁸ by this executive order. These orders in general aren't as far reaching as laws passed by Congress. The White House says the changes could take six months or more to have an effect.

1 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

2 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 maternity   

n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的

参考例句：

• Women workers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.女工产假期间工资照发。
• Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。

6 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

7 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。