Former President Donald Trump has shifted his stance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, promising to make it “stronger, better, and more affordable” should he win the upcoming presidential election. This marks a significant departure from his previous intention to terminate the ACA.
“Contrary to what President Joe Biden has been suggesting, I have no intention of terminating the ACA,” Trump stated in a video shared on Truth Social. “Our goal is to enhance the ACA, making it more beneficial and cost-effective for the American people.”
ACA’s Future Becomes Central Election Theme
The future of Obamacare has once again taken center stage in the presidential campaign. Biden has seized on Trump’s comments, accusing the former president of intending to strip millions of Americans of their health care coverage. He has also highlighted his own efforts to fortify the landmark health reform law.
Despite having four years to replace or reform the ACA, Trump’s administration only managed to make minor changes, largely due to the Republican-led Congress’s failure to repeal the law and the growing popularity of many Obamacare provisions.
Trump’s Impact on ACA
Trump’s tenure saw a range of impacts on the ACA. Enrollment numbers fell, but the Obamacare exchanges also stabilized. Insurers returned to the market, and the average premium for the benchmark plan declined for three consecutive years. The percentage of counties with only one participating insurer also decreased significantly.
However, Trump’s administration also introduced measures that critics argue weakened Obamacare. These included cutting the open enrollment period, slashing the advertising budget, and reducing funding for enrollment assistance. Trump also signed an executive order making it easier for Americans to access alternative policies with lower premiums but fewer protections and benefits.
Trump’s Promises and Challenges
Trump is now promising to improve the ACA, but has not provided details on how he plans to achieve this. His task could be even more challenging given that the Biden administration has reversed many of his actions and the ACA has gained popularity since Trump left office.
John Holahan, an institute fellow in the Health Policy Center at the Urban Institute, expressed skepticism about Trump’s promises. “We’ve been down this road before,” he said. “It never got anywhere.”