President Donald Trump praised Australia's government-funded universal healthcare system moments after touting GOP House passage of bill criticized for leaving millions uninsured, The Washington Post reported.
"We have a failing healthcare – I shouldn't say this to our great gentleman, and my friend from Australia, because you have better healthcare than we do," Trump said at a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in New York City on Thursday.
Australia's government-funded healthcare system, called Medicare, exists alongside private insurance.
The newly approved American Health Care Act has not been evaluated by the Congressional Budget Office, but its earlier version was estimated to leave 24 million fewer people insured, the Post reported.
"It's a very good bill right now," Trump told reporters during Turnbull's visit. "Premiums are going to come down substantially, deductibles are going to come down. It's going to be fantastic healthcare. Right now Obamacare is failing."
Trump's remarks made one lawmaker laugh; Sen. Bernie Sanders ran for president last year arguing for a universal public option, similar to the system in place in Australia.
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