Trump Targets Surprise Costs, Pre-Existing Conditions

President Donald Trump will sign a series of executive orders aimed at lowering health care costs and protecting people who have pre-existing conditions.

At a news conference on Thursday, Trump outlined what he called his America First Health Care Plan. Instead of proposed legislation, Trump’s plan relies on a number of executive orders that he said would deliver “better care and more choice at a lower cost.”

Protecting those with pre-existing conditions from being discriminated against by health insurers is also a pillar of the Affordable Care Act, which is the object of a Supreme Court case. The Trump administration wants the court to have the law declared unconstitutional.

In listing his executive orders, Trump said his plan would:

-Increase the availability of short-term health plans, association health plans and health reimbursement arrangements.

- Protect those with pre-existing conditions from being discriminated against by health insurers.

- Make individual health care premiums fully tax deductible.

- Improve access to telehealth.

- End surprise billing.

- Establish price transparency by requiring the prices of medical procedures to be made available to consumers online.

- Lower the price of prescription drugs by allowing the importing of drugs from Canada and by lowering Medicare drug prices to match prices paid in other countries, a policy known as “most-favored nation.” 

- Allow low-income patience to obtain government discounts for insulin and Epi-pens. Trump said the price of insulin would be capped at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries.

- Put patients in charge of their medical records.

Trump’s proposals require further steps in the rulemaking and policy implementation process before they can go into effect.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Thursday that his agency was directed to work with Congress to pass legislation that would protect Americans against surprise medical bills. If such legislation is not passed by Jan. 1, then Trump will instruct HHS to investigate executive and regulatory actions that Trump can take that will ensure that patients are protected against surprise bills, Azar said.

Trump also announced he plans to mail $200 discount cards to Medicare beneficiaries to use for prescription drugs.

Susan Rupe is managing editor for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @INNsusan.

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Susan Rupe is editor in chief, magazine, for InsuranceNewsNet. She formerly served as communications director for an insurance agents' association and was an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor. Contact her at [email protected].