From left, Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., and Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, participate in a news conference on Tuesday. | Andrew Harnik/AP Photo CBO: Senate 'repeal-replace' plan would leave 22 million more uninsured

The revised Senate Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare H.R. 1628 (115) would leave 22 million more Americans uninsured over a decade, the CBO said Thursday.

The new coverage projection — which accounts for billions of dollars in additional funding to appease moderate Republicans — is nevertheless the same as CBO’s estimate for the first version of the bill.


The CBO report does not include an analysis of Sen. Ted Cruz’s amendment that would let insurers sell "skinny plans" — health plans with fewer benefits that don't meet Obamacare insurance regulations — as long as they also sell ACA-compliant ones. Key insurance industry groups and many health care experts warn that could destabilize the insurance market and leave even more people uninsured. The administration released a study Wednesday saying it would bring premiums down and boost enrollment.

The tentative inclusion of that amendment in the bill won Cruz’s support as GOP leaders tried to gather support to start debate.

Republicans remain at least four votes short of the 50 needed to bring the bill to the floor, including ailing Sen. John McCain. Several more GOP senators critical of its effect on coverage remain uncommitted.

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The repeal bill would now reduce the deficit by $420 billion over 10 years, following the preservation of more Obamacare taxes, as well as the addition of funding to combat the opioid crisis and strengthen the individual market.

That compares with the $321 billion reduction CBO projected for the initial version of the bill.

Average premiums on the individual market under this revised repeal and replace plan are still expected to increase sharply until 2020, after which they’d drop as much as 30 percent as insurers roll back benefits.

