Scott Powers
Donald Trump released details Thursday of his plans for health care reform starting with repeal of Obamacare and focusing on cost reduction measures.
Trump’s seven-point plan begins by calling for the elimination of any mandates for individuals to possess health care through a repeal of the Affordable Care Act. The plan does not address any efforts to get Americans to buy health insurance, except by the assertion that if health care or health insurance were more affordable, more people would purchase.
“No person should be required to buy insurance unless he or she wants to,” it states.
Cost-savings measures spelled out in points two-through-six include a proposal that has been standard with almost all Republican candidates, that health insurance plans should be available across state lines; premium payments should be tax-deductible; health savings accounts should be universally available and contributions tax-free; that there should be requirements for transparency on health care fees; Medicaid should be block-granted to the states; and regulatory barriers lifted for the importation of drugs.
“The reforms outlined above will lower health care costs for all Americans. They are simply a place to start,” his campaign states.
There are no mentions of any consideration to keeping popular portions of the Affordable Care Act, such as the requirement that insurance companies cannot deny coverage for people with pre-existing health conditions, or the extended coverage for young adult children living at home.
The plan also calls for sweeping reform of mental health programs, stating, “Families, without the ability to get the information needed to help those who are ailing, are too often not given the tools to help their loved ones.”
