Ryan sidesteps Trump's goal of health coverage for all

By ALAN FRAM
Jan. 27, 2017 6:01 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Paul Ryan sidestepped an opportunity Friday to embrace President Donald Trump's goal of "insurance for everybody," saying instead that congressional Republicans are aiming for "universal access."

Ryan, R-Wis., made the remark in an interview with Politico after Republicans ended a three-day policy retreat in Philadelphia. The meetings left them still facing decisions about exactly how they will scuttle President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and replace it with a system of their own.

Trump told The Washington Post this month that he was "down to the final strokes" on a package that will have "insurance for everybody." He provided few details.

Asked about that Friday, Ryan said, "Universal access is what our goal is." Congressional Republicans have been using that phrase for several weeks, words that suggest a more modest number of people would be covered than under Trump's more expansive term.

"We believe in giving everybody the ability and the resources to buy affordable health care coverage," Ryan said. He added, "If you choose not to do that, we're not going to have government make you do something."

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