Will Trump Tank The Affordable Care Act?

The U.S. president made at least three big moves this week that undercut the federal health law.

Alex Wong/Getty Images “We now know what Trumpcare looks like, and it’s pretty ugly,” Zeke Emanuel, an oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act, told Morning Edition Friday. Your NPR health team has been closely tracking President Trump’s moves, to help you figure out how you and your 2018 health plan are likely to be affected. Here’s what we see, regarding three key actions the White House took this week and last: Halting Subsidies For Health Insurers Expected To Drive Up Costs For Middle Class On Thursday night, the White House announced it would stop reimbursing insurers for the discounts they’re required to give low-income consumers. Interestingly, Trump’s move is likely to most directly hit middle-class families, reporter Alison Kodjak tells us, as insurers raise premiums on their policies to make up the shortfall. There’s a chance this isn’t a done deal; New York, California and other states already are threatening to sue. Some Employers With ‘Moral Convictions’ Against Contraception Can Deny Birth Control To Workers Two anti-abortion groups that don’t qualify for a religious exemption to some of the ACA’s rules on health policies may have a new loophole. As veteran health care reporter Julie Rovner explains, a recently issued rule from the White House directly benefits the anti-abortion groups “March for Life” and “Real Alternatives.” Trump Signs Order To ‘Expand Health Insurance Options.’ That sounds good. Conservatives have long advocated for the use of “association health plans” – set up by a chamber of commerce say, or trade groups – to boost competition among health insurers. But as Alison Kodjak explains, the result could be that healthy people pay less and sicker people are priced out of coverage. Whew! And that’s just so far this month. Please let us know your thoughts about any and all of these policies, and about any particular questions you have and answers you want us to track down. We’re all in this together. -- Your Shots editor, Deborah Franklin   You received this message because you're subscribed to our Health emails. |  Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy | NPR 1111 N. CAPITOL ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002