12/02/2016

Trump’s Plan For Healthcare

President-elect Donald Trump has made a big push to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). His healthcare plan, released in March, focused on seven broad bullet point measures that promise to overturn the ACA, break down state barriers and even expand healthcare access. 

1. A complete repeal of the Affordable Care Act, arguing no citizen should be forced to buy health insurance. He has recently softened the stand on complete repeal and now favors keeping the ACA provisions that require coverage for pre-existing conditions and the provision which allows children to stay on their family policies until age 26.
   
   
2. Congress should break down state barriers to allow insurance companies to offer plans in any state, as long as the plan is in compliance with state requirements.
   
   
3. Give people the ability to deduct insurance premium payments from taxes, as businesses are already allowed this deduction. Further, Trump pushes for a review of Medicaid options to make sure everyone who wants healthcare coverage is able to afford it. 
   
   
4. Establish tax-free Health Savings Accounts, which could become part of an individual’s estate and passed on to heirs without an estate penalty. Additionally, all family members can use the account without penalty.
   
   
5. Price transparency from providers and hospital organizations, to allow individuals to shop for the best prices on treatments.
   
   
6. Medicaid should be handled on the state level, including incentives, to ‘preserve our precious resources.'
   
   
7. Break down barriers that prevent drug providers of less expensive, safe products from entering the free market. And consumers should be allowed access to safe, imported drugs from overseas.