President Trump's Healthcare Agenda

 

As President Donald Trump’s health care agenda for a potential second term begins to take shape, it’s evident that many policies implemented under President Joe Biden may not survive. On Monday, Trump signed a broad executive order aimed at rolling back several of Biden’s health care initiatives, including efforts to reduce prescription drug costs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, strengthen the Affordable Care Act, and bolster protections for Medicaid enrollees. The Trump administration described this as an “initial rescissions order,” targeting what it called “deeply unpopular” and “radical” Biden-era policies.

However, experts suggest that Trump’s actions are unlikely to have a significant impact on what many Americans pay out-of-pocket for health care. For instance, one of the Biden policies overturned by Trump had directed Medicare to explore ways to lower drug costs, including potentially capping out-of-pocket costs for certain generic drugs at $2 per month. According to Stacie Dusetzina, a health policy professor at Vanderbilt University, this initiative was still in the planning stages, and it was uncertain whether it would have been implemented at all.

Notably, Biden’s more substantial health care reforms—such as the 35monthly cap on insulin , the 2,000 annual out-of-pocket limit on prescription drugs, and Medicare’s new authority to negotiate drug prices—remained untouched by Trump’s executive actions. These larger initiatives continue to stand, at least for now.

---

Popular Weight Loss Drug

Also, it remains uncertain whether the Trump administration supports Medicare’s authority to negotiate drug prices, a central component of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Last week, Medicare identified the next set of prescription drugs slated for price negotiations, including popular medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.

“Trump could either signal his support for continuing drug price negotiations or attempt to repeal the provision altogether,” Levitt said. “The Trump administration has significant flexibility to decide whether to negotiate more aggressively or take a softer approach.”

Arthur Caplan, head of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, noted that, for now, Trump appears to be approaching health care costs “with great caution,” leaving Biden’s major initiatives untouched.

While Trump has historically favored a limited government role, Caplan pointed out that Trump is aware of the significantly higher prices the U.S. pays for health care compared to other countries, which may necessitate government intervention.

Caplan expressed hope that Trump would preserve the Medicare drug price negotiation provision. “At the moment, he seems to be making small adjustments around the edges,” Caplan said. “But I hope he doesn’t go further than that.”

When it comes to the Affordable Cares Act

Experts note that some of actions On January 20th were anticipated, particularly those aimed at weakening the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly referred to as Obamacare—a key objective during Trump’s first term. Among the changes, Trump reversed a policy that had extended Obamacare’s open enrollment period by an additional 12 weeks in 36 states, reducing the window of time for uninsured adults to sign up for coverage.

Additionally, Trump rescinded an executive order designed to bolster Medicaid, which included measures such as increasing outreach funding to states to help more people enroll in the program. These moves align with his broader efforts to roll back Biden-era health care policies.

 If you have questions about your healthcare options or  plan please fill out the form and a licensed agent will be in contact. Your information will not be sold and you will not be solicited by any other agency. Lon's Insurance is an independent agency dedicated to serving you