washington president donald trump order federal agencies undermine obamacare regulatory action move could weaken enforcement requirement americans buy health coverage give insurers leeway drop benefit trump first executive order sign hours take office friday direct federal government scale back regulations tax penalties president barack obama healthcare law affordable care act aca republican lawmakers work new legislation repeal replace obamacare praise order show trump commitment gutting program low steep healthcare cost blame law trump specify part program would affect order change unlikely affect government-funded subsidize insurance plan cover 20 million people 2017. trump nominee head u.s. department health human service georgia representative tom price say plan pull rug millions americans healthcare replacement design scope trump order drive home uncertainties process healthcare experts say order could affect virtually anything law provide couch delay implement law say stuart butler senior fellow brook institution trump administration could decide delay enforce individual mandate requirement americans buy health coverage already benefit employer government well similar requirement employers certain size insure workers experts say others say change handle carefully could force insurance premiums high make healthcare less affordable americans outcomes trump republicans say try avoid administration run really fine line say dan mendelson chief executive washington-based consult firm avalere health go record say go point administration could also alter fail enforce requirements insurers cover basic set health benefit plan maternity newborn care mental health service could signal insurance industry could offer new products example include maternity benefit order attract sales people would prefer slim package say joe antos american enterprise institute think tank republican lamar alexander chairman senate health committee say last week price confirm could relax requirements u.s. state get exemptions law well make easy state get waivers medicaid health plan low-income households allow state flexibility determine essential health benefit ... probably single important step could take create market insurers likely sell policies alexander say committee one several house senate work repeal replace obamacare three large health insurers aetna inc unitedhealth group incand humana inc essentially pull market offer health insurance individuals obamacare cite financial losses cover population sick expect remain players include anthem inc well insurers specialize administer lower-cost medicaid plan molina healthcare inc. ana gupte senior healthcare analyst investment bank leerink partner say trump executive order could reassure people market obamacare dismantle one way another could positive insurers would long face law health insurance tax say could negatively impact acute-care hospitals see customers insurers sell policies state medicaid program could shrink size clear congress look repeal law poise happen replacement one avenue make sure agenda execute gupte say trump order pave way agencies weaken health law