updated November 26, 2024
This post looks back at healthcare under the first Trump administration from 2016 to 2020.
I originally wrote this post in 2020 during the Presidential campaign between incumbent Donald Trump, Republican, and Joe Biden, Democrat. Trump was not reelected.
In 2024 Trump again ran for President against the incumbent Biden, who unexpectedly dropped out of the race in the summer. His Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic candidate.
Donald Trump won reelection with 50% of the popular votes to 48.4% for Kamala Harris. The electoral count was 312 to 226. (per the Associated Press).
(The last President to serve two non-consecutive terms was Grover Cleveland in 1893. )
Healthcare 2008-2016
Due to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus, health has been a major topic in both world and national news this year and will continue to be so for months if not years. And health is a major issue in this year’s United States presidential election in November 2020.
Health care was a major issue in the 2008 election and proved to be momentous. In his campaign, the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, promised health care reform and as President he delivered with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, (ACA) the first time Americans have had universal health care.
The ACA sparked heated debate in the 2016 election with the Democratic candidate pledging to build upon it and Republican candidate vowing to dismantle it . This year the debate continues.
Healthcare and the Presidential Campaign 2020
In this and another post, I review and list what I think are some of the most important points in the health care philosophy of each major party candidate, according to information on their official websites.
I am not endorsing either of the candidates, their party ,or their healthcare plans. My intent is to present a non-partisan look at what they have done and propose. If it sounds otherwise, that is unintentional.
You should also review a post about the Republican Party healthcare platform.
The incumbent candidate-Republican- Donald J. Trump
Donald J. Trump, owner and former president of The Trump Organization, was elected the 45th U.S. president in 2016. He was born June 14, 1946. Mr. Trump is married to Melania Trump and has 5 children.
President Donald J. Trump Achievements
This information was adapted from a Trump-affiliated site that is no longer active.
The Trump Administration
- expanded access to Association Health Plans (AHPs) allowing small business to pool risk across states.
- launched a program to provide the HIV prevention drug PrEP to uninsured patients for free.
- issued guidance expanding options for individuals with chronic conditions. High deductible plans can now cover products such as insulin, inhalers and statins pre-deductible.
- issued a rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide services like abortion, sterilization or assisted suicide, if they cite a religious or conscientious objection.
- announced the launch of a new COVID-19 Uninsured Program Portal in an effort to cover testing and treatment for uninsured individuals.
As part of the landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act President Trump repealed the individual mandate, which forced people to buy expensive insurance and taxed those who couldn’t afford it.
The mandate disproportionately hurt the poor: 80% of those affected made less than $50,000.
As President, Mr. Trump
- took executive action to strengthen Medicare and reform the Medicare program to stop hospitals from overcharging seniors on their drugs.
- pressured China to close dangerous loopholes that allowed Chinese fentanyl manufacturers to legally ship the compound worldwide, much of which ended up in the U.S.
- created a bipartisan opioid commission that issued 56 recommendations to help defeat the opioid crisis.
- invoked the Defense Production Act, giving power to allocate health care supplies and increase production of necessary products to counter COVID-19.
- worked with Congress to stop surprise medical billing.
As President, Mr. Trump signed
- the bipartisan Tobacco-Free Youth Act to raise the nationwide age for purchasing tobacco and vaping products to 21 years old.
- the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, expanding the SNAP and WIC programs by adding $500 million, helping pregnant women and those who lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
- an executive order to modernize flu vaccines and help protect more Americans by promoting new technologies to improve vaccine manufacturing and effectiveness.
- a bill to extend Veterans Choice Health Care Law.
- an executive order that increased price and quality transparency in American health care.
Exploring the HEART of healthcare election politics
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watercress words by Dr Aletha 
Thank you for the unbiased review. I appreciate it!
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Thank you Amy, I’m glad you find it helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to read it and to vote!
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