Republican plans to reform the US healthcare system will lead to a huge redistribution of funds from poor to rich Americans and could see millions of low-income people lose their health insurance, it has been claimed.

Donald Trump and other top Republicans have repeatedly vowed to abolish the Obamacare system introduced by Barack Obama to help more low-income Americans access health services.

They plan to achieve this by replacing large sections of Mr Obama’s Affordable Care Act with a system that would, experts say, see more federal funds going to wealthier Americans at the expense of poorer members of society.

The Obamacare programme helped more Americans access the Medicaid programmes that provides health insurance to poorer families and gave middle-income people tax credits that allowed them to purchase their own insurance policies.

Critics, however, say the legislation places too many costs on businesses and is an excessive intrusion by the state into people’s private lives. Opponents also claim it increased health insurance premiums for some Americans.

Under the Trump Administration’s planned reforms, the funding for low- and middle-income Americans would be altered and see support shifted toward wealthier families.

“The Republican plan would alter both of those programs, changing the winners and losers”, said Margot Sanger-Katz, a healthcare specialist at the New York Times.

“It would substantially cut funding for states in providing free insurance to low-income adults through Medicaid. And it would change how tax credits are distributed by giving all Americans not covered through work a flat credit by age, regardless of income.”

The result is that even the wealthiest Americans would be entitled to the same financial assistance as anyone else of their age - regardless of their income.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

And the changes could mean millions of US citizens lose their health insurance policies altogether.

“The current system is set up to ensure that low and middle-income Americans can afford the cost of their premiums”, Ms Sanger-Katz said.

“The Republican plan would not do that, and would result in many more low-income people losing out on coverage if they couldn’t find the money to pay the gap between their fixed tax credit and the cost of a health plan.”

Previous analysis of similar proposals had concluded that “millions” of Americans would lose their health coverage, she added.

During the presidential campaign Mr Trump repeatedly vowed to abolish Obamacare, calling it “a fraud” that “doesn’t work”.

Donald Trump shifts his position on Obamacare during CBS 60 minutes interview

After taking office he appointed as Health and Human Services Secretary an Atlanta congressman, Tom Price, who has spent years planning ways to scrap the programme.

Speaking shortly before Obamacare was introduced, Mr Price called it a “hyperpartisan piece of legislation that will have a disastrous effect on our nation’s health care system".

Mr Trump tweeted early on Friday to say that repeal of the Affordable Care Act was “moving fast”.