Ex-Kentucky governor: ObamaCare works

Former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D), who delivered the Democrats’ rebuttal to President Trump’s address to Congress, says his state is proof ObamaCare works.

“I know we’re now in a world of ‘alternative facts,’ but look at the facts in Kentucky,” he said Wednesday on CNN’s “New Day.” “The facts speak for themselves.”

“Three years after implementing the Affordable Care Act, our uninsured rate dropped from over 20 percent to 7 percent,” Beshear added. “Our uncompensated rate for providers dropped from like 25 percent to less than 5 percent.”

{mosads}“It works here in Kentucky. Not only is it working, it’s creating jobs. I created 12,000 jobs in the first year that we implemented the Affordable Care Act.”

Beshear, who retired in 2015 due to term limits, added that “people are actually getting healthcare coverage now, and they like it.”

“Preventive healthcare is kicking in, and the statistics are showing that people’s health is starting to get better,” said Beshear, who implemented Kentucky’s Kynect ObamaCare exchange and expanded its Medicaid program.

Trump reiterated his pledge to repeal and replace ObamaCare nationwide during his first address to a joint session of Congress late Tuesday.

“ObamaCare is collapsing — and we must act decisively to protect all Americans,” he said. “Action is not a choice — it is a necessity.”

“So I am calling on all Democrats and Republicans in the Congress to work with us to save Americans from this imploding ObamaCare disaster.”

Beshear late Tuesday warned Trump against scrapping ObamaCare in the Democratic rebuttal to the president’s address.

“This isn’t a game — it’s life and death for people,” he said, alleging GOP repeal plans “would charge families more for fewer benefits and put insurance companies back in control.”