With Donald Trump on his way back to the White House, we can be sure that our health care system will change dramatically over the next four years. Sarah Owermohle reports for StatNews on ways in which Trump could restructure US health care.
As Trump said in his victory speech, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is likely to be in charge of “mak[ing] America health again.” It’s not at all clear what that means. Americans appeared less focused on health care this election and more focused on the economy. However, health care costs are part of the economy and have always been a large concern for Americans.
This go round, Trump claims he won’t try to end the Affordable Care Act. He says he simply wants to reduce costs. That could mean lower costs for healthy people and higher costs for people who need care. It could also mean health insurance options that are not comprehensive, for example, insurance that does not cover prescription drugs.
Tax credits that help people with low incomes afford insurance premiums could not be extended at the close of 2025, when they expire. Republicans in Congress don’t support them.
Trump says he will not support a law that bans abortion in American. He intends to prevent funding for gender-affirming care and prohibit it for minors entirely. He will protect employers’ right to refuse to cover birth control based on their religion.
What will Trump do with Medicare? During his last presidency he ultimately decided not to support lower drug prices. Will he try to undo Medicare drug price negotiation for high-cost drugs?
Both Medicare and Medicaid are on the table. He might try to do away with traditional Medicare. Although Medicare Advantage has cost the Medicare program significantly more than traditional Medicare, Republicans in Congress still look to the corporate insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans to contain costs. Trump left open the possibility that he would cut spending on Medicare and Medicaid. In his first presidency, he gave states permission to put work requirements on some people with Medicaid.
Trump says he wants a commission to look at the growth of chronic illnesses in America. Who knows what that will lead to. To date, he has not embraced RFK Jr.’s notion that vaccines are responsible for chronic diseases. RFK Jr. will not lead the Department of Health and Human Services, according to a Trump spokesperson, but he still could have significant authority over recommended vaccines.
On a brighter note, Trump has said he will ensure access and insurance coverage of in vitro fertilization.
Trump says he supports tax credits to help with the costs of America’s 53 million plus caregivers. He has yet to offer details as to what that would look like. Health savings accounts, which tend to be of little help to people when they need costly care, is one way he might go.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Donald Trump’s threat to Medicare and Social Security
- Biden brought down the price of insulin significantly; a Trump presidency could undo that
- Project 2025 would push everyone with Medicare into Medicare Advantage
- Project 2025: A plan to destroy Medicare quickly
- 2024: What to know this Medicare Open Enrollment Period
Leave a Reply