President-Elect Biden Looks Forward, Vows To Expand Obamacare

President-elect Joe Biden pressed on Tuesday, vowing to dramatically ramp up health care coverage for pandemic-weary Americans "as soon as humanly possible." The president-elect's comments come just hours after the Supreme Court heard arguments on the Affordable Care Act's merits and as the Trump administration refuses to concede the 2020 election and commit to a peaceful transition of office.

In his televised address, Biden said his transition team is already exploring ways to tackle existing health care barriers and costs. His goal, Biden said, is to build on the law more commonly referred to as Obamacare and look for ways to dramatically expand the law.

He also called for cooperation, saying health care is "not a partisan issue."

"This is not hyperbole. This is real — as real as it gets," Biden said. "Americans need a lifeline, and they need it now, and we're going to get right to work ... fulfilling our moral obligation that, here in America, health care is a right for all."

Tuesday marks the third time the Affordable Care Act appeared on the Supreme Court docket.

Eight years ago, the high court ruled to leave intact the essential components of the law, but President Donald Trump and his Republican allies are seeking to have it overturned.

If the 6-3 conservative court ultimately agrees with the GOP, millions of Americans could lose their health care coverage.

Tuesday's arguments indicated the court is unlikely to strike down the entire law, according to a report by The Associated Press. But the possibility only adds mounting pressure to Biden, who is now faced with laying out a specific plan to address national health care amid the coronavirus pandemic that's already claimed hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Biden called the attempt to dismantle Obamacare during the coronavirus pandemic "cruel and needlessly divisive."

Biden also addressed the ongoing presidential transition in his address. As Trump continues to raise unsupported claims of voter fraud, he has blocked Biden from receiving the intelligence briefings traditionally shared with incoming presidents, AP reported.

Trump's resistance, backed by senior Republicans in Washington and across the country, could also prevent background investigations and security clearances for Biden’s prospective national security team and access to federal agencies to discuss budget and policy issues.

While Biden said Trump's refusal to accept the election results is an "embarrassment" and would "not help the president's legacy," he also said the Trump administration's response is "not of much consequence."

"The entire Republican Party, with a few exceptions, have been put in a position where they are mildly intimidated by the sitting president," Biden added. "We will be moving along in a consistent manner — nothing is going to stop that."

As he ended the briefing, Biden was asked how he planned to work with GOP members of Congress who refuse to acknowledge his election win.

"They will," Biden said.