260,000 NJ residents would lose health coverage under Obamacare repeal

In the unlikely event President Obama signs a bill repealing the Affordable Health Care Act — or Congress could successfully override a veto — thousands of New Jersey residents would be left without healthcare coverage.

Just over 260,000 New Jersey residents are enrolled in the program and pay for their coverage with the help of a subsidy, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medical Services. The bill, passed by the House Wednesday and sending the repeal to Obama's desk for the first time, would eliminate such subsidies.

The 240-181 vote went along party lines in New Jersey.

Democrat Rep. Frank Pallone in a tweet called the vote "irresponsible and a complete waste of time" that would reverse progress he believes the Obamacare program has made with healthcare.

On the floor of the House, Republican Leonard Lance said the bill contains "patient-centric solutions that lower health care costs, protects jobs and allows Americans to keep their doctors and their healthcare if they like them."