Maureen Groppe

USA TODAY

When President Trump woke up Saturday to the fact that Republicans couldn’t meet their seven-year promise to get rid of Obamacare, what was his reaction? It will go away on its own.

“ObamaCare will explode and we will all get together and piece together a great healthcare plan for THE PEOPLE. Do not worry!” Trump tweeted before playing golf.

Is Trump right that the 2010 Affordable Care Act could collapse on itself?

The two main ways the law extended coverage to an estimated 20 million more Americans was through expanding Medicaid eligibility and providing insurance subsidies to people who aren’t offered coverage through an employer.

While Medicaid expansion continues in states that are willing to participate, the individual insurance marketplace has had more problems.

Most states saw double-digit increases in premiums this year for plans sold on the exchanges that began in 2014. And the cheapest plans come with high deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs.

Some insurance companies have stopped participating. The head of Anthem, a major player in the individual insurance market, has said the market is “on a slippery slope towards significant deterioration and requires changes to ensure future stability and affordability.”

Republicans had counted Anthem among the backers of their bill — which was pulled from the House floor Friday because it couldn’t pass — because of a letter the company sent lawmakers endorsing major parts of it.

Insurers will be deciding this spring what plans to offer in 2018 and what they will cost.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Friday that Democrats are willing to work with Republicans to improve Obamacare, but only if Republicans stop trying to gut the law.

“If they take repeal off the table, we're willing to sit down with them and improve Obamacare,” Schumer told CNN. “It's doing a good job, but there are places that it can be improved. No question about it.”

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