President Trump’s Great Healthcare Plan presents a mixed bag of reforms: CEI analysis

Today, the Trump administration announced its “Great Healthcare Plan,” which suggested reforms and policies aimed at addressing rising healthcare prices. CEI’s Jeremy Nighohossian says that while some of the reforms conceptualized in the announcement would be beneficial for consumers, more would need to be done to ensure Americans have their choice in healthcare.

“President Trump’s Great Healthcare Plan offers a mixed bag of reforms. Some will have a positive but small effect on healthcare prices, while others will accomplish nothing. Putting subsidy money in people’s pockets and pushing for price transparency would help move healthcare decisions back to consumers. Cost-conscious and knowledgeable consumers are the greatest force for cost control in the economy, however due to the complexities within the healthcare system, burdened by government spending and strangling regulations, much more will need to be done.

“President Trump’s outline compels Congress to allow Americans to buy the health insurance of their choice. Congress should lean heavily into that and significantly deregulate the exchanges so that Americans can choose from plans beyond those that past legislators deemed acceptable. It should be Americans themselves that make that determination. It is those requirements that are driving up the costs for enrollees and taxpayers.”