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Monday, October 16, 2017

Trump's EO Injects Competition Into ObamaCare

On Thursday, President Donald Trump bypassed a weak-kneed Republican Congress and began rolling back ObamaCare with an executive order that injects free market measures into the law. As he signed the order, Trump said, “So this is promoting health care, choice and competition all across the United States. This is going to be something that millions and millions of people will be signing up for and they’re going to be very happy. This will be great health care.” Trump declared that this was the first step in “providing millions of Americans with ObamaCare relief.”

So what does Trump’s executive order accomplish? Primarily, it directs the secretary of labor to consider expanding access to Association Health Plans. This would allow employers the freedom to form groups which offer coverage across state lines. “Insurance companies will be fighting to get every single person signed up,” Trump stated, adding, “And you will hopefully be negotiating, negotiating, negotiating. And you’ll get such low prices for such great care.”

Another impact of this order would be that those “association health plans” could be immune from some state and federal insurance requirements. At the same time employers would not be free to exclude employees from their plans based on preexisting conditions, nor charge more to those employees with long-term health issues.

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Competition was missing from Obama's version, which was a fatal error.

Anonymous said...

Everyone knew Obamacare would fail, unless it was fixed later on. That's what the designers counted on- a continuation of liberal power in DC.
Trump spoiled their plans. And may save the best healthcare system on the planet.

Competition is ALWAYS better than a one-payor or government system.

But, the one thing that will solve the healthcare woes is self-rationing healthcare expenses. Unless you pay for it, does ANYONE ever care how much it costs? That's the problem since the late 60's: doctors and hospitals charge you but someone else pays for it. That's why costs went up so much. We have to put patients in the drivers seat and have them question healthcare providers about necessity and costs. it won't change until that happens.