“The Republican party has become the healthcare party,” declared President Donald Trump as he laid out his America First Healthcare Plan on Thursday.
Trump’s America First Healthcare Plan rests on three pillars: “More choice,” “lower costs,” and “better care.”
Trump’s vision is designed to improve the healthcare system, focusing on healthcare reforms that directly impact consumers though prescription drug prices and access to medical records, as well as reforms that impact the healthcare system itself through pricing transparency and returning the medical supply chains to the U.S.
More Choice
Trump’s plan to provide more choice to consumers includes access to health insurance plans beyond the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) such as short-term limited duration plans, association health plans and healthcare reimbursement arrangements so that consumers may select the plan that best suits their needs and budget.
In addition to providing consumers with choice, Trump noted that he is working to have health insurance premiums be considered fully tax deductible.
In addition to health insurance options, Trump noted that the telemedicine expansion has dramatically increased use of telemedicine across the U.S. Trump sees telemedicine as the future of healthcare and said he intends to ensure that all Americans have the freedom to consult with doctors from their home, especially those who are in rural areas where it is difficult to access providers. Citing statistics from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Trump said that 14,000 people are now using telemedicine each week.
Lower Costs
Trump’s plan to lower healthcare costs includes measures we can anticipate such as pricing transparency and curtailing, surprise billing and excessive prescription drug costs. Specially, Trump noted that prescription drug prices are three times higher in the U.S. than in Canada. With the ability to buy safe drugs across the countries, Trump expects drug prices will come down approximately 40% in the U.S.
Addressing healthcare for seniors, Trump mentioned insulin cost reductions to $35 or less as well as expansions to Medicare Advantage, that have enhanced benefits and reduced premium costs in many states.
And in a surprise, Trump announced that 33 million Medicare beneficiaries will soon receive a card in the mail with $200 on it to help them pay for prescription drugs.
Better Care
Trump’s plan for better care for Americans includes an executive order affirming that it is the policy of the government to cover pre-existing conditions and any plan that is put before the president must include protections for them pre-existing conditions. In addition to covering pre-existing conditions, Trump announced that he is working to put patients in control of their medical records by requiring providers to make records electronic and portable so that patients can work with multiple doctors seamlessly.
And to improve the stability of the supply chain, Trump announced it is his plan to bring the medical supply chain home so that prescription medications and medical supplies are created in the U.S.
Trump’s America First Healthcare Plan to provide “more choice,” “lower costs,” and “better care” is designed to focus on providing healthcare reforms that will provide consumers with choices that suit their needs while it also reforms the healthcare system to reduce costs.
Jan Dubauskas is a healthcare expert, enthusiastic insurance pro, attorney and mom serving as vice president of healthinsurance.com.