President Donald J. Trump's Administration is Working to Provide More Flexible, Affordable Healthcare Options for All Americans | Eastern NC Now

Press Release:

    "We will deliver relief to American workers, families, and small businesses, who right now are being crushed by Obamacare, by increasing freedom, choice, and opportunity for the American people."   -   President Donald J. Trump

    CREATING NEW HEALTHCARE PLANS: President Trump's new rules on short-term, limited-duration health plans will increase health insurance options for Americans.

           •  On August 1, 2018, the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury issued their final rule on short-term, limited-duration health plans.

           •  The new rule allows for the sale and renewal of short-term, limited-duration plans that cover longer periods than the previous maximum of less than three months.

           •  Coverage under short-term, limited-duration plans can now cover an initial period of less than 12 months, with an option to extend the coverage to a maximum duration of 36 months.

           •  This new rule will increase choices for Americans facing extremely high premiums and create flexible options that are not currently available to individuals.

                •  Short-term, limited-duration insurance plans can provide beneficial coverage for multiple groups, especially middle-class individuals and families who have faced large premium increases and dwindling choices since Obamacare was first implemented.

                •  These plans are expected to be 50 to 80 percent cheaper than Obamacare plans.

           •  This rule largely reverses an Obama Administration rule published in late October 2016.

           •  The rule also clarifies that people can combine these plans with separate commercial products that provide people financial protection from possible future premium increases if they fall ill.

    PROVIDING OPTIONS: Short term, limited-duration health plans will help millions of Americans who were shut out of insurance markets due to Obamacare.

           •  Obamacare has failed to provide a suitable healthcare option for millions of Americans.

                •  According to the Centers for Disease Control, 28 million Americans are without insurance coverage.

           •  Americans are increasingly being priced out of Obamacare plans. In just the first five years of Obamacare's full implementation, insurance premiums more than doubled.

                •  Under the prior administration's policies, unsubsidized Obamacare enrollment dropped 20 percent from 2016 to 2017, including a 73 percent decline in Arizona.

           •  In many American counties, options are nonexistent. Over 52 percent of American counties have just one Obamacare exchange insurer.

           •  This rule does not modify any rules governing Obamacare plans (such as pre-existing conditions or essential health benefit requirements); it simply gives consumers another option.

    DELIVERING ON PROMISES: President Trump has made delivering more affordable and flexible healthcare options and increasing healthcare freedom a key priority.

           •  In June 2018, President Trump's Administration expanded options for small firms and self-employed business owners by issuing regulations expanding "association health plans" which allow certain businesses to join together across state lines to purchase health coverage.

           •  President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which, beginning in 2019, will eliminate Obamacare's tax on Americans who cannot afford or do not want Obamacare coverage.

           •  In October 2017, President Trump issued his Executive Order "Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition across the United States." Today's action flows from that order.

• Contact: White House
•     Press Office