How the healthcare industry is reacting to a second Trump term

[Duaine]

It’s unlikely that Trump will again attempt to repeal the ACA, which is widely popular among Americans. However, his administration could move to cut costs stemming from the Obama-era law, including allowing more generous subsidies for plans on ACA exchanges to expire next year. That would save taxpayers money, while causing the U.S. uninsurance rate to rise sharply after record gains in coverage under President Biden, according to experts.

Incoming Vice President J.D. Vance has also floated plans to let insurers stratify patients based on their health conditions, which could cut costs for healthier people but lead to skyrocketing spending for older individuals or those with chronic health conditions. Under Trump, the HHS could also reintroduce skimpy short-term health insurance and other non-ACA-compliant coverage, which were rolled back during the Biden administration.

As for Medicaid, Trump was largely silent during his campaign regarding the massive safety-net program, which covers almost 80 million Americans. However, the president-elect could revive guidance allowing states to shrink Medicaid eligibility through work requirements, controversial programs tying coverage eligibility to work or volunteering hours, and to cap program funding through block grants.
[EXTERNAL LINK] - How the healthcare industry is reacting to a second Trump term

 

[somarco]

(Paraphrasing . . .) You can please some of the people some of the time, and all of the people all of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time . . .

It depends on whose ox is being gored.

 

[DNicholsIns]

If Trump’s administration decides to cut back on ACA subsidies, it might mean fewer affordable options for some people, even though it could save taxpayer money.

 

[Duaine]

If Trump’s administration decides to cut back on ACA subsidies, it might mean fewer affordable options for some people, even though it could save taxpayer money.

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"

"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.

"Both very busy, sir."

"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I am very glad to hear it."

 

[somarco]

@Duaine you have a sinister side to you . . .

 

[Tahoe Ray]

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"

"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.

"Both very busy, sir."

"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I am very glad to hear it."

You missed the best(?) part:

“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”

“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

 

[InsuranceGuy29]

It’s unlikely that Trump will again attempt to repeal the ACA, which is widely popular among Americans. However, his administration could move to cut costs stemming from the Obama-era law, including allowing more generous subsidies for plans on ACA exchanges to expire next year. That would save taxpayers money, while causing the U.S. uninsurance rate to rise sharply after record gains in coverage under President Biden, according to experts.

Incoming Vice President J.D. Vance has also floated plans to let insurers stratify patients based on their health conditions, which could cut costs for healthier people but lead to skyrocketing spending for older individuals or those with chronic health conditions. Under Trump, the HHS could also reintroduce skimpy short-term health insurance and other non-ACA-compliant coverage, which were rolled back during the Biden administration.

As for Medicaid, Trump was largely silent during his campaign regarding the massive safety-net program, which covers almost 80 million Americans. However, the president-elect could revive guidance allowing states to shrink Medicaid eligibility through work requirements, controversial programs tying coverage eligibility to work or volunteering hours, and to cap program funding through block grants.
[EXTERNAL LINK] - How the healthcare industry is reacting to a second Trump term

"Wildly popular" is pretty hilarious. If you're lower income (within 20-40% of the Medicaid poverty limit), it's popular. If you're not, you're subsidizing everyone and would give anything to get out of Obamacare.

No matter what it is, something has to change. A ton of people are paying a ton of money and getting absolutely nothing out of Obamacare aside from their bank account drained.

I quoted a guy last week. $100,000 income. Plan is $1,270/month with a $8,000 deductible, and no individual line services where the deductible does not apply.

You essentially only have catastrophic insurance, in a case like this, and are only being financially drained. $15,240/year on the rare chance that something horrible might happen is insane.

And then even if something horrible does happen, you have to satisfy the entire deductible., and then pay up to the MOOP, so add another $9,400. $24,640 a year, if you get really sick, is not sustainable or insurance. It's insanity....that's what it is.

And let's also put the blame where it belongs.....the big pharmaceutical companies and the greedy hospitals. They are the ones setting prices for healthcare. It's insane. As I always say....money does not grow on trees. Somewhere, someone is paying.

Obamacare was created to bankrupt and kill the middle class, both financially and literally. And it affects who? People that own their own businesses. Democrats don't like those people because they don't need them.

The above is also a classic example of why I laugh when some entitled people bitch about Medicare Advantage. Is it for everyone? No....different folks, different strokes...Medigap is great too.

But your average Medicare Advantage plan is $0/month premium, $0 deductible, super low copays, tons of free extras like prescription coverage, dental, vision, hearing, and spending cards, and low maximum-out-of-pocket-spending limits.

I mean, I will GLADLY trade places with you any day and you can have my crappy ObamaDontCare policy.

 

[Tahoe Ray]

"Wildly popular" is pretty hilarious. If you're lower income (within 20-40% of the Medicaid poverty limit), it's popular. If you're not, you're subsidizing everyone and would give anything to get out of Obamacare.

No matter what it is, something has to change. A ton of people are paying a ton of money and getting absolutely nothing out of Obamacare aside from their bank account drained.

I quoted a guy last week. $100,000 income. Plan is $1,270/month with a $8,000 deductible, and no individual line services where the deductible does not apply.

You essentially only have catastrophic insurance, in a case like this, and are only being financially drained. $15,240/year on the rare chance that something horrible might happen is insane.

And then even if something horrible does happen, you have to satisfy the entire deductible., and then pay up to the MOOP, so add another $9,400. $24,640 a year, if you get really sick, is not sustainable or insurance. It's insanity....that's what it is.

And let's also put the blame where it belongs.....the big pharmaceutical companies and the greedy hospitals. They are the ones setting prices for healthcare. It's insane. As I always say....money does not grow on trees. Somewhere, someone is paying.

Obamacare was created to bankrupt and kill the middle class, both financially and literally. And it affects who? People that own their own businesses. Democrats don't like those people because they don't need them.

The above is also a classic example of why I laugh when some entitled people bitch about Medicare Advantage. Is it for everyone? No....different folks, different strokes...Medigap is great too.

But your average Medicare Advantage plan is $0/month premium, $0 deductible, super low copays, tons of free extras like prescription coverage, dental, vision, hearing, and spending cards, and low maximum-out-of-pocket-spending limits.

I mean, I will GLADLY trade places with you any day and you can have my crappy ObamaDontCare policy.

I want stop gap insurance.

I will pay for all of my basic care (that I can get from a concierge service) but if I or someone in my family has a catastrophic health event, I need it covered.

Make that available to everyone.

 

[annon123]

And let's also put the blame where it belongs.....the big pharmaceutical companies and the greedy hospitals. They are the ones setting prices for healthcare. It's insane. As I always say....money does not grow on trees. Somewhere, someone is paying.

The health insurance industry can be partly to blame too. For example UHC "owns" a good chunk of the nation's physicians, some hospital systems, etc. then insure people to use, often what they own... So there is a conflict of interest there which can drive costs up.

I remember reading, a handful of years ago, that some insurance company had their drug copays priced to be the actual wholesale cost of the drug. Thus, essentially, the drugs didn't cost the insurance company anything.

 

[Jim Wright]

I quoted a guy last week. $100,000 income. Plan is $1,270/month with a $8,000 deductible, and no individual line services where the deductible does not apply.

That's called a HDHP and that's a choice for someone to make if they want to contribute to an HSA. To make it seem like that's all that is available is not accurate. There are plenty of $0 deductible bronze plans out there that work for a lot of people.

Are the premiums too high because of the subsidies coming from the gov't? Of course. But there is some good competition in that market and the plans are getting better. There are things to fix but it's not a total disaster.