Gov.-elect Phil Murphy said Wednesday he plans to examine New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's efforts to preserve health insurance coverage for residents of his state as a model for New Jersey if parts of the Affordable Care Act are repealed under a new Republican tax bill in Congress.

"We've gotta look at that," Murphy, a Democrat, told reporters at Healthcare.gov open enrollment event in Newark. "I think we have to assume that everything is on the table."

In June, Cuomo issued emergency regulations requiring any private insurer to guarantee the 10 "essential health benefits" offered under Obamacare, and blocking any insurer that withdraws from New York's health insurance exchange from participating in Medicaid or its children's health plan.

But Murphy was adamant that his first priority should be to pressure Congress to preserve the individual mandate to buy health insurance that serves as the Affordable Care Act's linchpin.

"Make no mistake," said the governor-elect. "There's almost nothing the state can do to replace the federal government."

The current tax reform bill in the U.S. Senate also threatens to slash health insurance for the 900,000 New Jerseyans who've gained access to health care under Obamacare by scrapping the the individual mandate requiring people to buy health insurance through a Medicaid exchange or pay a penalty.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates a repeal of the Obamacare insurance purchase mandate would increase premiums by 10 percent and result in 13 million fewer people with insurance.

Murphy said there was little New Jersey's two Democratic U.S. Senators could do in the interim.

"We've gotta hope for the kindness of senators from other states around the country," he said, adding that public pressure from national groups like Planned Parenthood might help.

Some Republican senators, like U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, have expressed reservations, citing what she called a "substantially negative impact" on the number of people covered by insurance.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump reportedly told GOP senators that he would consider signing two Republican-backed bills that would fund reimbursements to health insurers for discounts on premiums offered to low- and middle-income Obamacare customers for two years, which would provide billions more in aid to help states create reinsurance programs for high-cost patients.

When Murphy was asked about that on Wednesday, the governor-elect said he was highly suspicious.

"The president said that?" Murphy asked. "Then buyer beware."

Murphy noted that while many middle class tax deductions would be eliminated under the Senate tax reform bill, "none of the (tax) benefits that are going to big companies and the wealthiest among us are scheduled to expire."

As a result of losing those middle class tax deductions, Murphy predicted there would be "enormous pressure" on entitlement programs like Medicaid for New Jerseyans.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.