trumps Healthcare Vision: A Step Backwards

Folks, who was supposed to be watching grandpa last night? Because he got out, got on TV and… It.Was. Not. Good.

For 18 long minutes Wednesday evening, we were subjected to a rant by President Trump that predictably careened from immigrants (bad) to jobs (good), rarely slowing down for reality. But jumbled between the vitriol and venom was a vision of American healthcare that would have horror villainess M3GAN shaking in her Mary Janes – a vision that we all should be afraid of because it would take us back to a dark era when insurance couldn’t be counted on.

Trump’s remarks offered only a sketchy outline, per usual, in which the costs of health insurance premiums may be lower – but it will be because the coverage is terrible. Yes, you’ll save money. But so what? A cheap car without wheels is not a deal.

“The money should go to the people,” Trump said of his sort-of plan.

The money he vaguely was alluding to is the government subsidies that make insurance under the Affordable Care Act affordable. After antics and a mini-rebellion by four Republicans also on Wednesday, congress basically failed to do anything meaningful on healthcare – pretty much ensuring those subsidies will disappear with the New Year.

Starting in January,premiums for too many people are going to leap skyward without the subsidies, jumping by an average of $1,016 according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. That’s a huge hit for families already struggling with inflation.

And what does Trump propose? Not much, other than a vague promise of lower costs. He didn’t mention specifics about pre-existing conditions, coverage for essential health benefits, or any of the other safeguards that the ACA put in place. It’s a recipe for disaster, plain and simple.

This isn’t just about politics; it’s about people’s lives. Healthcare shouldn’t be a luxury, and it shouldn’t be held hostage by political games. We need leaders who are focused on solutions, not on dismantling progress.

the expiration of these subsidies, combined with Trump’s lack of a concrete plan, paints a grim picture for the future of healthcare in America. it’s a future where coverage is less affordable, less thorough, and less accessible. And that’s a future we can’t afford.