ObamaCare – Page 4 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

updated June 25, 2026

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. Joe Biden won that election.

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 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, health was a major topic in both global and national news. And health was s 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 .

Official portrait of President Donald J. Trump, Friday, October 6, 2017. (Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead)

How to become President inforgraphic — The Presidential pathway from USA.gov

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This information was adapted from a Trump-affiliated site that is no longer active.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.

Oval Office replica — replica of the Oval Office at the Reagan Presidential Library, photo by Dr. Aletha

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ACTIONS TO COMBAT THE CORONAVIRUS

President Trump established a Coronavirus Task Force which advised him on the medical and scientific facts, research, and treatment of COVID-19.Vice President Mike Pence chaired the task force.

January 6, 2020- the CDC issued a level 1 travel notice for Wuhan China, established a coronavirus incident management system for information about the virus, and two weeks later activated its emergency operations center.

January 27- The White House Coronavirus Task Force started meeting to monitor the virus and provide updates to the President. The CDC issued a level lll travel health notice to avoid all nonessential travel to China.

January 30-WHO declared coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, a global health emergency. (not in the timeline as written)

On January 31, the Trump Administration declared the coronavirus a public health emergency, announced Chinese travel restrictions, and suspended entry into the United States for foreign nationals who pose a risk of transmitting the coronavirus.

February 4- In his State of the Union Address, Mr Trump vowed to “take all necessary steps” to protect Americans from the coronavirus.

February 7- He told reporters that the CDC is working with China on the coronavirus.

February 24- The Trump Administration requested $2.5 billion from Congress to combat the spread of the coronavirus. On March 6 he signed an $48.3 billion bill to provide funds to federal, state, and local agencies, and $500 million in Medicare telehealth waivers. He requested a payroll tax cut bill from Congress.

March 31- Trump issued “30 Days To Slow The Spread” guidance to mitigate the outbreak of coronavirus.

April 2-Mr. Trump invoked the Defense Production Act to direct 3M to produce more N95 respirator masks and to help several companies-ResMed, General Electric, Medtronic- get the supplies needed to make ventilators.

April 3-Mr. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum blocking the export of N95 and other respirator masks, surgical masks, PPE gloves, and surgical gloves to ensure they are available in the U.S.; he directed FEMA to send Ochsner ( Medical Center in Louisiana) surgical gowns.

April 6- In a phone call, he discussed potential coronavirus therapies with CEOs of pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

April 12- The United States, Russia, and OPEC agreed to cut oil production and stabilize the oil market, a deal that Mr.Trump “brokered.”

April 14-President Trump halted funding to WHO, while a review of its “mismanagement” of the coronavirus outbreak is conducted. (quotation marks added)

April 16-He announced new, phased “opening up America again” guidelines, spoke with the Opening Up America Again Congressional group, and spoke with the Governors about re-opening.

By April 17, the President had declared major disaster declarations for all states and territories, a first in U.S. history

April 22- Mr. Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation suspending immigration to the U.S. for 60 days due to “the impact of foreign workers on the labor market, in an environment of high unemployment.”

By April 27, President Trump had spoken with many foreign leaders, including those of India, Italy, China, Turkey, Russia, Kenya, South Africa, Poland, Pakistan, Qatar, Ecuador, Britain, and France.

He also spoke to Republican Senators, former Vice President Joe Biden, and the state Governors.

He attended meetings with multiple business leaders including those in health insurance, tourism, retail, wholesale, supply chain distributors,and banking.

He spoke by phone with owners of groceries, restaurants, and other small businesses.

He also spoke to leaders in mental health, faith, tribal affairs, and nonprofits, including the Salvation Army and the Red Cross.

He met with energy execs from Phillis 66, Devon, Occidental, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and other companies to discuss coronavirus’ effect on the energy industry.

Mr. Trump spoke to the commissioners of major league sports organizations-MLB, NFL, and NBA, recognizing the teams’ and players’ work in their communities to combat coronavirus.

He met with military families, coronavirus survivors, and front line healthcare workers.

April 24- The President signed the Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP) and Health Care Enhancement Act into law

$323 billion-for the PPP

$75 billion-for health care providers

$25 billion- for coronavirus testing

April 24-President Trump spoke with three other Presidents.

April 24: “Vice President Pence & members of the coronavirus held a conference call with Governors to discuss increasing testing capacity.”

On April 27, the White House coronavirus task force appeared in a Rose Garden

Exploring the HEART of health

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Dr. Aletha

Recently I attended a Naturalization Ceremony, my first ever. Forty people from 15 different countries met all the requirements to become citizens of the United States.

The ceremony was solemn but joyful with a local high school choir singing “Music to My Soul” as the whole audience clapped along. The Oath of Allegiance that I’m sharing with you here is sobering . Judge Michael said that we natural born citizens should take it to heart also.

Oath of Allegiance — the oath of allegiance

In honor of my new fellow citizens, I’m sharing a post I wrote about the American healthcare system-not perfect, but one we can “support and defend” with pride.

They subsequently established a government, military, educational system, highway system, public works, and a healthcare system.

We Americans may pride ourselves on not having “socialized” medicine or “national healthcare”, but we do have a health care system that is a combination of public and private funding and administration. And even private healthcare must comply with a myriad of local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

I believe we have one of the best healthcare systems in the world because of the people who work in healthcare- the people who devote years to education and training and who work tirelessly 365 days a year, 24 hours a day to make and keep us well. Their commitment, compassion, dedication and competence benefits all of us and deserves our gratitude.

Statue of Liberty — Lady Liberty lifting her torch in New York harbor, from my vacation there

According to recent statistics, the United States government accounts for-

40% of healthcare spending

$1.3 trillion /year

Covering 100 million individuals

Through 4 federal agencies

Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Defense
Veterans Administration
Department of Homeland Security

(JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), June 21, 2016)

Healthcare for active duty military and veterans

During the American Revolution the fledgling government extended health care benefits to the soldiers and veterans of that war; that system evolved into the current military health care system which covers service members and the Veterans’ Administration system for veterans.

American soldiers serving in Afghanistan

Healthcare for civilians

Under President Barack Obama, Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 to guarantee basic health insurance to all citizens. Newly elected President Donald Trump vowed to “repeal and replace” this law while some changes have been made, it is still in force.

Two other government healthcare programs- Medicare and Medicaid are over 50 years old.

Medicaid provides insurance coverage for adults and children who are unemployed or low income.

Medicare covers disabled children and adults and persons 65 years and older.

The numbers are rather staggering.

Together these programs cover at least 30% of Americans.
Together they comprise 25% of all federal spending.
Together they pay 40% of total U.S. health care spending.

An infographic from the Kaiser Family Foundation and JAMA explains this further.

(Cubanski J, Lyons B, Neuman T, et al. Medicaid and Medicare at 50. JAMA. 2015;314(4):328. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.8129)

a man in a wheelchair — Disabled children and adults may qualify for Medicare.

a nurse with a child in a hospital — Disabled children and adults may qualify for Medicare.

You may not be eligible for either of these programs now, but chances are eventually you or someone close to you will.

Anyone can become disabled from a serious illness or freak accident.
You or your spouse may lose your job and your employer sponsored health insurance.
Your child may have a disability that will prevent them from working when they grow up.
We may all live long enough to qualify for Medicare on the basis of age alone. Your parents or grandparents are near or already at Medicare age.

ELDERLY COUPLE -189282_1280 — Senior adults age 65 and older use Medicare.

It’s important to understand how Medicare works, since it’s not automatic; even if you qualify, you need to sign up to be covered (with a few exceptions). The rules are summarized here. Or consider an easy to understand book.

Government healthcare mostly falls under the direction of –

The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

whose Secretary serves in the Presidents’s Cabinet, thus making it part of the Executive branch of the government.

Several government agencies regulate, monitor, promote and/or support both public and private healthcare (most but not all of these are under HHS.)

Food and Drug Administration- FDA

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention- CDC

National Institutes of Health- NIH

Occupational Safety and Health administration-OSHA

Drug Enforcement Agency-DEA

medication capsules — The FDA regulates the development and sale of medications and medical devices and the DEA regulates dangerous and controlled drugs.

Important Federal Healthcare Laws

The Affordable Care Act- ACA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-HIPPA

Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act- EMTALA

Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health- HITECH

Americans with Disabilities Act-ADA

Family Medical Leave Act-FMLA

Liberty Bell -replica — replica of the Liberty Bell at Disney World, Florida, photographed when I visited with my grandchildren

The origin of United States healthcare

In the Declaration of Independence, the founders of the United States created a nation based on the “self-evident truths” of “Life ,Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” and to promote “Safety and Happiness” .

In the Constitution they vowed to “promote the general Welfare” .

Tag: ObamaCare

President Trump’s Healthcare Achievements 2016-2020

updated June 25, 2026

Healthcare 2008-2016