On Saturday, US President Donald Trump criticised ObamaCare, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and suggested that funds be provided directly to individuals so they can purchase their own health insurance. In a Saturday morning Truth Social post, President Trump suggested a compromise on health insurance payments.
Trump urged Republicans to provide Americans direct access to government funds intended for insurers under the Affordable Care Act. The post was made the day after Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's proposal, which would have put an end to the government shutdown, was rejected by Senate Republicans.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump called on Senate Republicans to "directly send the money used to offset the costs of ACA health care premiums to the people" so they may "purchase their own, much better, health care." Although fiscal hawk GOP Senator Rick Scott gleefully declared on X that he is "writing the bill right now," the president did not offer any additional information.
Currently, ACA members who are eligible for tax credits also referred to as premium subsidies never receive the money. To offset people's monthly premiums, they are sent straight to insurers.
"I am recommending to Senate Republicans that the hundreds of billions of dollars currently being sent to money sucking insurance companies in order to save the bad healthcare provided by ObamaCare, BE SENT DIRECTLY to the people so that they can purchase their own, much better, healthcare and have money left over," Trump said on Truth Social.
He went on to say that funds would be distributed to the public from "BIG, BAD Insurance Companies." The president also urged Senate Republicans to "terminate, per Dollar spent, the worst Healthcare anywhere in the World, ObamaCare." On an unrelated topic, the President went on to say that they also needed to "terminate the filibuster."
Trump's remarks coincide with the current government shutdown. Democrats want the healthcare subsidies that are scheduled to expire for 24 million Americans at the end of the year to be included in the new spending plan. Republicans contend that before addressing other matters, Congress need to enact a straightforward budget package to reopen the government.
Republican Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and James Lankford of Oklahoma have already endorsed Trump's latest proposal. Marketplaces made possible by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allow individuals to purchase health insurance directly from private providers.
These plans primarily assist those who are not covered by government programs like Medicare and Medicaid or by their employers. In the past, such as during the Covid-19 relief efforts, Trump has backed the notion of making direct payments to Americans.
No, not just now. Trump's idea would need to be approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives in order to become law. That hasn't happened yet, therefore there won't be any direct payments made to individuals for health insurance at this time.
