The first-term senator seemed to leave the door open to compromise, saying, "In this form, I will simply not support it", but he went on to mount an extensive critique of the bill that made the possibility of successful compromise seem remote at best.
Heller, who is widely believed to be the most vulnerable Republican senator up for re-election in 2018, is the first moderate lawmaker to oppose the legislation.
Nevada also expanded the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, and the Senate bill would phase out that expansion starting in 2020.
Cruz said the bill should allow individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines, which would increase competition and lower costs. Some conservatives think current plans don't go far enough; others say those plans will hurt numerous people they represent.
McConnell wants to push the package through the Senate next week, and will succeed if he can limit defections to two of the chamber's 52 Republicans. It also prompted an outcry from centrist senators and medical organizations anxious that it takes on the law, known as Obamacare, too aggressively and would lead to millions losing their health care or receiving fewer benefits...
States could not get exemptions to Obama's prohibition against charging higher premiums for some people with pre-existing medical conditions, but the subsidies would be lower, making coverage less affordable, Pearson said. The Senate version is expected to be scored as early as next week. Wavering senators should know that we're not fooled.
Congressman Ryan says party's message is why Democrats losing elections
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday dismissed calls from some in her party who say it's time for her to step aside. Trump seems to enjoy the focus on Pelosi, taking another jab Friday after tweeting about her the day before.
"We're anxious about the burden it creates for the states", Kristine Grow, spokeswoman at America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), said on Friday.
"It will give people plans that are very hard to use at their income levels", he said, noting the coverage will likely have deductibles of over $6,000 a year.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has finally unwrapped his plan for dismantling President Barack Obama's health care law.
After hospital, doctors and advocacy groups lambasted the proposal released Thursday, the health insurance industry's main Washington lobby said it's concerned about its impact on states' finances and low-income Americans. He predicted that his call for a preservation of Medicaid expansion would lose the support of the more conservative senators from non-expansion states in the GOP Senate conference.
"We don't have enough time, both members and the public, to completely evaluate this bill, see the scoring, see all the debate within the public realm".
The measure resembles legislation the House approved last month that the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said would mean 23 million additional uninsured people within a decade and that recent polling shows is viewed favorably by only around 1 in 4 Americans.
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