UPDATE - US House narrowly passes Obamacare replacement bill

ADDS ROSE GARDEN COMMENTS, DETAILS

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - As Democrats erupted in an unusual chant of "Hey hey, goodbye", the House of Representatives passed on Thursday a Republican plan to repeal and replace former President Barack Obama's landmark universal healthcare law.

The 217-213 vote sends the controversial Obamacare replacement bill to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future. It nonetheless marks President Donald Trump's most significant legislative victory.

"Welcome to the beginning of the end of Obamacare," Vice President Mike Pence said in the Rose Garden shortly after the historic vote.

Republican leaders last month were forced to call off a vote, lacking needed support at the time.

But late last week they secured support from a group of far-right conservatives after including language in the bill that allows states to opt out of certain requirements.

The amendment allows states to pursue waivers from the Affordable Care Act's requirement that insurers charge people with pre-existing conditions the same as those who are healthy, and further allows states to pursue waivers pertaining to charges for the elderly.

It further removes tax penalties on those who choose not to get health insurance.

Roughly 20 million Americans gained health coverage under Obamacare.

On the House floor, Speaker Paul Ryan said the American Health Care Act "delivers on the promises we have made to the American people".

"Many of us have been waiting seven years to cast this vote," he said. "But many of us are here because we pledged to cast this very vote. To repeal and replace Obamacare. To rescue people from this collapsing law."

The bill's House passage marks a major achievement for Trump, who like his fellow Republicans, told the American people that he would "repeal and replace" Obama's healthcare law during last year's election.

Flanked by congressional Republicans as he delivered a victory speech in the Rose Garden, Trump said America "suffered with Obamacare".

"This is a repeal and a replace of Obamacare, make no mistake about it," Trump added, vowing that the bill will be able to clear the Senate.

"It's going to be an unbelievable victory actually when we get it through the Senate," he said.