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\u201cInstead of putting the needs of big corporations and special interests first, our plan finally puts you first and puts more money in your pocket,\u201d Trump said in a video. \u201cIt\u2019s called the \u2018Great Healthcare\u2019 because it\u2019s great health care at a lower price.\u201d<\/p>\n
What the plan proposes<\/h2>\n According to a White House fact sheet, the \u201cGreat Healthcare Plan\u201d proposes codifying the \u201cmost favored nation\u201d deals that would lower drug prices based on what other countries pay. Trump noted these prices could decrease by 80% to 90%.<\/p>\n
The plan would also make more pharmaceutical drugs available for purchase over the counter, lowering health care costs and helping consumers \u201cby strengthening price transparency, increasing competition, and reducing the need for costly and time-consuming doctor\u2019s visits,\u201d the White House said.<\/p>\n
The plan also proposes holding insurance companies accountable by instituting a \u201cPlain English\u201d requirement that would necessitate companies to publish rate and coverage comparisons upfront on their websites, and not in \u201cindustry jargon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Insurance companies would also be required to publish the percentage of their revenues that are paid out to claims vs. overhead costs and profits, as well as the percentage of insurance claims they reject and average wait times for routine care.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn other words, you will be able to watch the scam,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n
Under the plan, any health care provider or insurer who accepts Medicare or Medicaid would be required to post their fees and pricing in their place of business, the fact sheet said.<\/p>\n
The Great Healthcare Plan rejects \u201cextra taxpayer-funded subsidy payments,\u201d instead sending money \u201cdirectly to eligible Americans to allow them to buy the health insurance of their choice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government is going to pay the money directly to you,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIt goes to you, and then you take the money and buy your own health care.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Senate rejected a similar health care plan backed by Republicans last month. The plan would have created new health savings accounts (HSAs) for consumers to put toward out-of-pocket costs. Critics of the plan said it would not have been enough to cover most consumers\u2019 health care costs.<\/p>\n
The Senate also rejected Democrat-based legislation seeking to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. According to a report from nonpartisan health policy research group KFF, the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits \u2014 in addition to already rising premiums \u2014 is expected to drive up out-of-pocket payments by over 75% on average.<\/p>\n
Reactions from experts<\/h2>\n Experts questioned certain components of Trump\u2019s new plan, like eligibility and payment.<\/p>\n
Cynthia Cox,<\/b> senior vice president and director of KFF\u2019s Program on the ACA and director of the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, said in a commentary that some of the provisions in the Great Healthcare Plan were already in the ACA.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, the ACA as implemented includes public data on claims denials and insurer overhead, and \u2018plain-English\u2019 insurance coverage summaries,\u201d she wrote. \u201cAdditionally, the first Trump administration used ACA authority to require hospitals and insurers to reveal prices.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also noted that \u201cit\u2019s not entirely clear from the summary exactly what is meant by the proposal to \u2018send the money directly to the American people.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it only the enhanced premium tax credit dollars that would be converted to a savings account, or are other taxpayer subsidies included in the \u2018extra\u2019?\u201d she wrote. \u201cWould the funds be limited to out-of-pocket costs only or be used for premiums?\u201d<\/p>\n
The plan does not say if people with pre-existing conditions are protected from higher premiums, and \u201cwithout knowing more, it is impossible to say what the implications would be\u201d for them, according to Cox.<\/p>\n
ACP President Jason M. Goldman, MD, MACP,<\/b> said the organization \u201cis encouraged\u201d by the administration\u2019s focus on lowering drug prices and increasing price transparency. But he noted that funding for HSAs \u201cis not a substitute for affordable comprehensive insurance coverage provided by ACA-compliant plans that guarantee coverage for recommended preventive services and ensure coverage for patients when they are sick.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIncreasing funding for HSAs should supplement, not supplant the enhanced premium tax credits for ACA marketplace plans,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
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