(RepublicanReport.org) – Former President Donald Trump recently took to Truth Social to slam Obamacare once again and suggest moving the country toward a better alternative. He noted that America has one of the most expensive, least effective healthcare systems in the world, and he wants to change that statistic. The 45th commander-in-chief hasn’t outlined any plans, but he promises to deliver this time if the country votes him in for another term.
Healthcare in America
Healthcare spending averaged $13,493 per person in 2022, accounting for roughly 17.3% of the US’ gross domestic product. In all that year, about $4.5 trillion went to Americans’ health and well-being. But costs keep rising. Insurance premiums alone will cost citizens who buy private coverage a projected $7,008 per person in 2024, a 4% increase from 2023.
Private insurance companies are making record profits all the while. In the second quarter of 2023, healthcare premiums brought in $83,735,018,282 — a $1,422,399,585 increase from what they made during the same quarter in the previous year. Even Medicare is a booming business. It made $25,725,486,596 more in second-quarter 2023 health premiums compared to 2022.
The Affordable Care Act, which went into effect on March 23, 2010, was supposed to be an answer to the US’ healthcare problem. It created subsidies and premium tax credits for lower-income families, expanded Medicaid, and promised to lower overall costs. The plan benefited people who had trouble previously finding affordable coverage due to pre-existing conditions and guaranteed coverage availability, and it created credits for small businesses providing employer coverage. And yet, Americans are still struggling to pay the bills.
Trump’s New Promise
Trump made new promises about changing the American healthcare system in a November 28 post to Truth Social. The former president stated that he would make finding a better alternative one of his priorities if he got back into the White House. He insisted that the US suffers from “one of the WORST” healthcare systems in the world, but under his administration, the country would be among the top providers.
About an hour later, Trump jumped back into his social media website to qualify his previous statement. He added that he had no plans to end “Obamacare” without having a better replacement ready. Again, he offered no indication as to what that would look like, noting only that “Obamacare Sucks!!!”
Trump posted a similar message on Twitter, now known as X, in June 2020, after failing to make any real headway with reforms. He claimed states were looking to the US Supreme Court to end the old system, which he called “a joke,” although in the end, nothing changed. The Washington Post reports that Trump settled on signing an executive order in September 2020 to guarantee coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, while leaving Obamacare in place.
The Hill reports that congressional Republicans are split over whether they believe a better plan is possible, and given the current slim divide, a vote on the matter isn’t likely to go far.
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