LSIPR 50 2018: Donald Trump
Name: Donald Trump
Organisation: US Government
Position: President
US President Donald Trump has certainly not shied away from the public eye since taking on the mantle of ‘Leader of the Free World’, but it’s his aggressive stance on the Affordable Care Act implemented by his predecessor that secured his place on our list.
Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump pledged to repeal and replace Obamacare, which was created by former US President Barack Obama to extend healthcare to the estimated 15% of the country who don’t have coverage.
Obamacare has proved unpopular among the Republican party, with many claiming that it is too expensive.
In October 2017, Trump took the first steps in dismantling the healthcare act by signing an executive order in a move that, he claimed, would bring affordable health insurance to millions more people.
Under the order, Trump’s administration has been tasked with developing policies that will increase healthcare competition in order to improve the quality of healthcare and lower prices.
"The changes, which came into effect in January this year, modify Obamacare in five ways."
The changes, which came into effect in January this year, modify Obamacare in five ways. Trump’s order requests that short-term health plans are extended to 12 months, rather than three months.
Second, the US Labor Secretary has been asked to allow employers to use pre-tax dollars for health reimbursement arrangements, helping workers to pay for any medical expenses.
The executive order also commissions a study to find ways to limit consolidation within insurance and hospital industries, as well as directing agencies to find additional methods of increasing competition and choice in the healthcare field.
Trump’s order also changes Obama’s plan by expanding access to association health plans—policies available to associations such as trade groups and small businesses.
The order expands the types of groups that can form these health plans as well as prohibiting them from refusing coverage or charging more to people with pre-existing conditions. In addition, it allows people on association health plans to buy policies in other states.
