Trump healthcare bill dangles by a thread – BBC News
Doomsday philosopher preps for political apocalypse under Trump
Trump announces outlines of health care plan he wants Congress to consider
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the outlines of a health care plan he wants Congress to also take up as Republicans have faced increasing pressure to address rising health costs after lawmakers let subsidies expire.
The cornerstone is his proposal to send money directly to Americans for health savings accounts so they can handle insurance and health costs as they see fit. Democrats have rejected the idea as a paltry substitute for the tax credits that had helped lower monthly premiums for many people.
“The government is going to pay the money directly to you,” Trump said in a taped video the White House released to announce the plan. “It goes to you and then you take the money and buy your own health care.”
Trump’s plan also focuses on lowering drug prices and requiring insurers to be more upfront with the public about costs, revenues, rejected claims and wait times for care.
Trump has long been dogged by his lack of a comprehensive health care plan as he and Republicans have sought to unwind former President Barack Obama’s signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act. Trump was thwarted during his first term in trying to repeal and replace the law.
When he ran for president in 2024, Trump said he had only “concepts of a plan” to address health care. His new proposal, short on many specifics, appeared to be the concepts of a plan.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, described it to reporters on a telephone briefing as a “framework that we believe will help Congress create legislation.”
A White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly and described some details on condition of anonymity said the administration had been discussing the proposal with allies in Congress, but was unable to name any lawmakers who were working to address the plan.
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the Republican chair of the Senate health committee, said in a social media post praising Trump’s plan that his committee “has and will take action on the President’s affordability agenda.”
Few specifics on health savings accounts
The White House did not offer any details about how much money it envisioned being sent to consumers to shop for insurance, or whether the money would be available to all “Obamacare” enrollees or just those with lower-tier bronze and catastrophic plans.
The idea mirrors one floated among Republican senators last year. Democrats largely rejected it, saying the accounts would not be enough to cover costs for most consumers. Currently, such accounts are used disproportionately by the wealthiest Americans, who have more income to fund them and a bigger incentive to lower their tax rate.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Thursday whether the president could guarantee that under his plan, people would be able to cover their health costs. She did not directly answer, but said, “If this plan is put in place, every single American who has health care in the United States will see lower costs as a result.”
Enhanced tax credits that helped reduce the cost of insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired at the end of 2025 even though Democrats had forced a 43-day government shutdown over the issue.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, has been leading a bipartisan group of 12 senators trying to devise a compromise that would extend those subsidies for two years while adding new limits on who can receive them. That proposal would create the option, in the second year, of a health savings account that Trump and Republicans prefer.
The White House official denied that Trump was closing the door completely on those bipartisan negotiations, and said the White House preferred to send money directly to consumers.
Plan follows massive cuts to health programs
Trump’s plan comes months after the Republicans’ big tax and spending bill last year cut more than $1 trillion over a decade in federal health care and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on those receiving aid and shifting certain federal costs to the states.
Democrats have blasted those cuts as devastating for vulnerable people who rely on programs such as Medicaid for their health care. The GOP bill included an infusion of $50 billion over five years for rural health programs, an amount experts have said is inadequate to fill the gap in funding.
The White House said Trump’s new proposal will seek to bring down premiums by fully funding cost-sharing reductions, or CSRs, a type of financial help that insurers give to low-income ACA enrollees on silver-level, or mid-tier plans.
From 2014 until 2017, the federal government reimbursed insurance companies for CSRs. In 2017, the first Trump administration stopped making those payments. To make up for the lost money, insurance companies raised premiums for silver-level plans. That ended up increasing the financial assistance many enrollees got to help them pay for premiums.
As a result, health analysts say that while restoring money for CSRs would likely bring down silver-level premiums, as Trump says, it could have the unwelcome ripple effect of increasing many people’s net premiums on bronze and gold plans.
Lowering drug prices is a priority
Oz said Trump’s plans also seek to have certain medications made available over the counter instead of by prescription if they are deemed safe enough. He mentioned higher-dose nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and peptic ulcer drugs as two examples.
It was unclear whether the White House is asking Congress to take steps to make more prescription drugs available over the counter. For decades, the Food and Drug Administration has had the ability to do that.
The heartburn drug Prilosec, as well as numerous allergy medications, are among those the FDA has approved for over-the-counter sales. The FDA only approves such changes if studies show patients can safely take the drug after reading the package labeling. Companies must apply for the switch.
The White House said Trump’s plan would also codify his efforts to lower drug prices by tying prices to the lowest price paid by other countries.
Trump has already struck deals with a number of drugmakers to get them to lower the prices. As part of that, the drugmakers have agreed to sell pharmacy-ready medicines directly to consumers who can shop online at the White House’s website for selling drugs directly to consumers, TrumpRx.gov. – Search
TrumpRx did not yet have any drugs listed on Thursday. Oz said drugs will be available on the website at the end of the month
AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone contributed to this report.
celticwardog
6 days ago
As I understand it, healthcare legislation is notoriously difficult to pass. This happens here in the UK too, whenever someone tries to change the NHS it hits a stumbling block. I wonder if this is by design, it gives something people to campaign on. It’s dumb and a waste of money. Bi-partisan committees should be set up (who are permanent regardless os administration) to look at this otherwise it will remain a political football forever.edited
XFiles123
6 days ago
You give the money directly to the people they will not spend it on healthcare but spend it to put food on the table with the prices of food today.
Mom2pugs
6 days ago
Reply to XFiles123
The money goes into a HSA type account. That money can only be used for health costs. Trump can’t call it a HSA since HSA accounts are tax deductible whereas you pay taxes on the subsidies. That’s a lot of tax dollars to lose…
XFiles123
6 days ago
The plan with NO planning. The need to tell the people something.
Archonovaberner
6 days ago
You know this plan, which he’ll probably present in crayon, is just a red herring. It’s intended to make us feel he cares and is doing something behind the scenes.
LoneRanger
6 days ago
So… in reality, there is no plan, again……. just shifting the responsibility to congress so he has someone to blame when nothing happens. trump had it right the first time around… “who thought healthcare could be so difficult” and he got nothing done just like he ended the war in Ukraine on day one, no two, no three???? etc…. and now, blames Zelensky….. the Ford employee was right.
LoneRanger
6 days ago
Shutdown the government… and this time, STAY shut down.
LoneRanger
6 days ago
Moreno’s two year plan….. Why two years? Answer…. so it will not be an immediate campaign issue at the midterms nor the presidential election. If democrats go for that idea of a two year extension, they will get what they deserve… nothing…
Asics 1966
6 days ago
There wars are everyone’s problem because of the GOP wasting tax dollars on wars in foreign countries.
Universal healthcare is the only way. The U.S taxpayers spend a huge chunk of their taxes on war.
How about cutting out war and foreign meddling and get universal healthcare for the people.
Samurai
6 days ago
I dumped 25% of my gross earnings into premiums on a “cadillac” ppo provided by my employer.
It’s a racket, and every politician this side of Bernie is bought and paid for. No direct payment or subsidy will scratch that surface. But yeah, let’s throw a bone to the rabble, scare up a vote or two…
MsAl
6 days ago
From concepts of a plan to outline of a plan in what, 10 years?
LastDay
6 days ago
This reminds me of that episode in House of Cards where Underwood locked 10 smartest graduate students inside a room for two weeks till they came up with the most balanced policy.
TM
6 days ago
It’s not rocket science. The basic idea of health insurance is to distribute risk among a few paid for by many in which health insurance is like a Lottery. I buy health insurance not for everyday use, but in case something terrible happens health wise because I can’t afford a half million dollars for a surgery.
But what Trump is saying is everyone would get cash payouts for their own use, and many will not spend it on health insurance and no way you will pay for that half million dollar surgery with any government payout. Don’t let Trump and Republicans treat you like chumps.
BG
6 days ago
Reply to TM
Yes, and instead of spreading the risk among millions as we would with a national plan, insurance companies spread the risk only among their members.
Sensiblepatriot
6 days ago
If he sends us money to buy medical care, how’s that going to lower healthcare costs?
The insurance companies will still control prices and physicians will still charge what they want to charge.
BG
6 days ago
Whatever they do it will be a band aid.
And what about hospital transparency? Years ago I had a $60,000 hospital bill, but they billed Blue Cross for about $20,000 (blue cross took credit for the reduction), I paid a little over $1,000. If the hospital can stay in business at one third the price, then what is the true cost?
And why don’t we have national health care? Between Medicaid, Medicare, VA benefits, and various subsidies the government is already paying for a huge percentage of the population. Yet we give insurance companies money, why?
Trump is just trying to set himself up to take credit for any little bit that congress might do.
leolivak
6 days ago
Reply to BG
Yeah, I agree with both of your points, but the second one even more so. The US already spends so much money on health care and it’s just all getting funneled into the most inefficient system possible. Not only that, but the US healthcare system is also just morally reprehensible. A national public healthcare system could solve so many of the American population’s health problems, while not increasing our abismal national debt. Similar to military spending, the US government is actively being scammed by lousy companies who have mastered the art of charging money for the least productive results possible.
Maggie
6 days ago
So they’re going to be transparent about costs. Gee isn’t that what told us about. EPSTEIN files. They don’t define squat. Devil in details.
And can the average American understand the complexity of the healthcare market. This is another opportunity for further grifting. CASSIDY had the opportunity to NOT CONFIRM RFK AND SAVE OUR SCIENCE. SO HE IS NOT VALID.
Zqxww
6 days ago
Wow finally came out after how many years he’s been promising it.
What an efficient guy!
DavidCrowley
6 days ago
Remember when Obamacare brought “Death Panels”? Donald Trump’s healthcare plan is going to be more like “The Purge.”
Donkeyshawn
6 days ago
I am sure his plan will go as well as his Casinos.
Bighead
6 days ago
This health care plan reminds me of writing an essay in between periods in high school so I could get it in by the end of the day to avoid getting
Thank you for writing an article that is significantly unbiased. I appreciate anyone who isnt picking sides, or reframing words, or is clearly baring their opinions and calling it “journalism”. If more publishers would write just the facts, without spin, we might actually be able to make sense of the chaos.
Whaler
6 days ago
So does this “concept of a plant” provide protections for people with pre-existing conditions ? It doesn’t matter if you subsidize or write a check, it’s the same money either way. At the heart of the challenge are the protections around healthcare like pre-existing conditions and price controls. This does absolutely nothing positive, only potential negatives which are in details he likely doesn’t have. It actually will cost the government more to do it this way because of the administration of writing checks. He just wants his name on a check.
Immigrant Ancestors
6 days ago
Reply to Whaler
What about CAPS on our Health Care? I was injured at work, because I was Academic Counselor at a UnivOfCal Psych Dept for almost 1000 students in the 90s. UC went online so I had to do the programming with the Registrar for our 3 Majors; test all the Calendar Years for Degree Checks; then input all the students Transfer Courses/APClasses; & input what the equivalent classes were.
I messed up Shoulders, Elbows, Forearms, Wrists, Thumbs & Fingers. 2 years later I had surgery for both sides of my elbow, by two days later I was screaming from the pain. Ortho Surgeon diagnosed rare CRPS. W/C sent me to a Quack at Scripps, when I had an AMA Board Member 20 min drive away who was healing patients.
After a complete physical breakdown due to Quack’s Malpractice, I was on too many meds/too high doses. Especially the Steroids which damaged my heart & caused AVN in my left hip/femur. My Ortho Surgeries in 2002 & 2004 for $250K. Plus my Cardiology at LLUMC where the first pediatric heart transplant was done. I’m on Medicare, Blue Cross & W/C won’t pay for anything now, because of new CA Laws in 2014.
So now if I need Heart Surgery, who will pay because I’m well over $2M?
jefrie
6 days ago
heaven help us!!!
MCss454
6 days ago
I would need about $12,000 for just the insurance then another $10,500 for the deductible. So if Trump is talking about taxing the wealthy so he can give every American $22,500 cash annually for health care I am on board.
Surgeon46
6 days ago
He’s going to lower drug prices just like he lowered grocery prices.
Zqxww
6 days ago
Reply to Surgeon46
5000% genius mode !!!!
Canuck416
6 days ago
“The insurance industry’s main trade group AHIP welcomed the plan…
Shares of CVS, Cigna (CI.N), and UnitedHealth (UNH.N), were up in afternoon trading by about 2%.” — Reuters
You know it’s a good plan for the people when the insurance companies and their shareholders like it.
Joydavis
6 days ago
This is ridiculous. No hard details. People do not understand the complications of choosing their own healthcare. Can you imagine having to call each insurance company to figure out which plan you should choose? It’s laughable. And TrumpRx doesn’t appear to be integrated with insurance plans. If you have employer sponsored insurance, it will not help you. But it helps Don Jr whose company supports the platform TrumpRx is using.
daveb
6 days ago
Do the following instead.
1) Allow each provider to set a single price they will take per medical code, visit, …. It is not negotiable or changeable for any customer (patient) or insurer. No negotiations.
2) Publish the list
3) Allow each insurer to include or exclude the provider based on their global price list.
4) Allow each consumer to choose their providers based on their global price list, reputation, …
You might not even need insurance with such a system as those with high deductible programs rarely get any benefit from their insurance other than negotiated rates and a max out of pocket if something terrible like cancer happens. Insurance could really be for only critical issues that are much more than our max out of pocket per year.
My plan was costing me $2,000 per month for a HDHP that never paid a dime out.
With such a program, Trump’s HSA government funds could actually cover much of your health care needs in this year and the future years if you remain healthy.
With such a simplified program, it could be even easier to have more competition for people to be insurers as everything is simple and regulated.
COMMENTS
RSAP
6 days ago
Reply to kwiks
It also becomes your problem when no one can afford it.
At that rate…..not going to happen.
BeerRunner
7 days ago
He’s moved from “concepts” to an “outline” now… after so many years we finally see baby steps
onlythetruthmatters
7 days ago
The full GOP RX plan will be presented to the American people on January 7, 2028, on day one (after the Epstein files are finally released).
Guaranteed!
JanPilcher
7 days ago
Seriously? TrumpRx.gov. Self-serving.
JustACentrist
7 days ago
“Concepts of a plan”? Great…If Trump and the Republicans are serious about this, and want to help the American People in the mean time, then extend the tax credits for 1 year (didn’t Schumer recommend that at one point?) while they turn their concepts into some tangible. Do it Republicans. I double dog dare you.
sunongrass
7 days ago
Reply to Nope234786
we spend more and get worse outcomes. educate yourself instead of accepting the pablum that’s fed to you.
Trump’s plan is a cruel joke, an election year government handout that will have no effect on the healthcare marketplace other than maybe to drive up consumer costs and profits of the insurers. Republicans are so afraid of what the rest of the world has – universal coverage. it’s the only solution along with optional supplemental plans. The house passed a bill that extends the subsidies for three years. it’s DOA in the senate though.
ContraryCat
7 days ago
As the midterms get closer the administration will be looking to throw a couple of bucks to taxpayers. The amounts will be nominal and be touted by supporters but will never be enough to actually help with the economic problems that people are experiencing. That’s because they hope the public will bite and give them some votes.
WileE
7 days ago
Pumping more money into health savings accounts is just handing his finance industry donors more money to play with in the market. They will use it to make investments and pay you back pennies while they rake in dollars.
Catdaddy
7 days ago
Smoke and mirrors to protect the monied status quo is all you will see from Republicans.
MrsMason
7 days ago
People lacking money to afford health insurance most likely lack funds for other things even more essential to their survival.
Sending cash to people is foolish and an obvious ploy to buy votes for Republicans using our hard earned taxes.
The best solution is Universal Medicare… Single Payer will also help keep Medicare solvent into the future.
It’s a win win if the GOP can find their way to stop using their constituents for personal gain.
I wouldn’t count on that last sentence, though. The GOP has their hands in theirs and everyone else’s pockets.
Nope234786
7 days ago
“requiring insurers to be more upfront with the public about costs, revenues, rejected claims and wait times for care”
Why am I not shocked that one side doesn’t want this….We’re talking about lowering costs, not stealing from others Americans like Democrats did. Says the one on stolen money for their health insurance….
JohnL
7 days ago
Reply to Nope234786
For some reason, always been rejected by republicans
Priest
7 days ago
I want the Republicans to leave their dirty hands off my health insurance.
SilverSkull
7 days ago
Reply to Nope234786
ER line…exactly. You may have to wait days for a bed to open up for you to be admitted.
I know someone that was told by their doctor, this month, that they needed a procedure done and the earliest appointment date was early September. You can have healthcare by paying premiums but to access it…that’s a whole different game.
https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2024/sep/mirror-mirror-2024
harold111
7 days ago
anything to avoid his complacency with epstein………….smoke and mirrors as this health care plan will go the same way as : trump steaks, trump college and his other bankrupt businesses
LK
7 days ago
The problem is you can not use HSA funds to pay for premiums. It is only used to pay for medical expenses or drugs. More hot air.
daveb
6 days ago
Reply to LK
With a max contribution of some place around 9K, you can’t SAVE anything if paying premiums for insurance for a family.
HSA = Health SAVINGS Account.
daveb
6 days ago
Reply to LK
Also, since most plans are High deductible anyways, if they changed the ability of providers to negotiate rates and said they must set one rate that each insurer and customer can accept or reject, then much of health insurace would be unnecessary. The negotiated rates are what most of us pay and benefit from. Too high of a price and nobody uses your service. That also fixes most of the network issues.
Donnaj
7 days ago
He wants to Control all Countries and All Americans. Good luck when you vote, you will be threatened.
BaconGod
7 days ago
So let it be written. So shall it be.
Third time’s the charm.
Time to IMPEACH!
MsKobold
7 days ago
Please tell me he plans to explain to low-income Americans that a one time $1000 HSA card will be just as helpful as the subsidies they have been receiving. I just like to hear him say these things out loud, it’s surreal. It gives me a sense of my own mortality, which is comforting, in a way.
Catdaddy
7 days ago
Reply to Nope234786
Democrats have been pushing for healthcare cost transparency for decades only to be thwarted by Republicans EVERY time. This ‘concept of a plan’ is smoke and mirrors.edited
laura refka
7 days ago
The Wizard of Oz lives in a fantasy land, along with all of Lacerta Orb’s other highly qualified Cabinet appointments.
Ten years he’s had to come up with an alternative to Obamacare, and still has naughta, zero, zip, zilch.
JohnA
6 days ago
Reply to laura refka
He and MAGA DID nail down the repeal idea.
They just lack the guts to admit that they will NEVER have the REPLACE part.
Windmill
7 days ago
It is obvious the republicans and president have NO idea what health insurance cost or what a visit to a doctor costs.
Storm
7 days ago
Reply to Windmill
That’s because we pay for theirs.
They should live on what they make us live on.
Minimum wage and have fun buying insurance, kids.
Congressional retirement would skyrocket.
JohnA
6 days ago
Reply to wandering about
Remember: Corporations are people too???
Get back to me when corporations have to register for the draft, let alone actually be drafted and when a corporation is sentenced to actual prison time. I’d also like to hear when a corporation has to stay up all night with a terribly sick baby.
Werblink549
7 days ago
Another smokescreen, let’s see the Epstein Files.
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