Sasse made repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act a centerpiece of his 2014 campaign, although he has avoided the public spotlight for much of the recent Senate health care discussion. In the interview, Sasse said that he has been working for months behind closed doors to build support for repeal-and-replace, with a particular emphasis on promoting insurance portability.

The main GOP proposal to simultaneously repeal and replace was rejected earlier this week, despite the support of all four Midlands senators.

While Sasse said that bill had its shortcomings, he also praised language from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would have opened the door for insurers to again sell skimpier “catastrophic” plans.

Sasse said there’s no interest group that makes money off those plans or lobbies for them, but many Americans would like to have that option.

“Nobody’s ever going to come and do a demonstration sit-in, screaming in your office: ‘I want a catastrophic plan,’ ” Sasse said. “But that’s actually what you hear lots and lots in Nebraska.”