Hello Mr. President, goodbye healthcare as we know it

Last night’s results are in, and Donald J. Trump is the new president-elect of the United States. This comes as shock to many who thought we would be saying, “congratulations Madam President,” this morning. With the surprising election results, many things seem uncertain for Americans. The Dow Futures fell more than 700 points last night, signifying the anxiety Wall Street feels about the economy, immigration changes seem imminent, and just as uncertain is the future state of our healthcare system. 

The most notable healthcare change proposed was to the Affordable Healthcare Act ( ObamaCare). Donald Trump has vowed to repeal ObamaCare, and has suggested that women who get abortions face punishment while his running mate Mike Pence has sought to repeal Roe vs. Wade.

{mosads}In fact, Trump has stated that on his first day in office, he’ll ask Congress to repeal ObamaCare in full. “No person should be required to buy insurance unless he or she wants.” The repeal of ObamaCare could mean that 20 million people will lose their current healthcare. At this point, Donald Trump has not given any replacement strategies.

I wonder how many Trump supporters realize they just voted for that. For those who will continue to have insurance, repealing ObamaCare means losing the regulations that ensure no cost annual wellness exams, as ObamaCare was a proponent for preventive medicine. Also, insurers will be able to go back to either increasing premiums for, or denying, coverage to people who have pre-existing conditions.

There are also regulations in place that ensure women don’t pay more for their health than men. If ObamaCare is repealed, that regulation will also go away. Experts have suggested that the repeal of ObamaCare would be catastrophic to the health insurance market and to people’s health.

Women also have to worry about their right to choose what to do with their bodies. If Donald Trump is successful in healthcare reform endeavors, then abortions will be legal and women will have to pay out of pocket for their birth control.

Additionally, Trump wants to make it easier for drug providers to enter the free market, allowing customers to access medication from overseas. This lowers costs; however it would also deregulate prescription medications, which could increase the amount of side effects that come with these medications and affect their quality.

Donald Trump gave no specific plans for the opioid crisis, mental health, or access to health care facilities — all challenges that millions of Americans currently face. 

Trump has suggested allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines, suggesting it would decrease premiums. This may decrease premiums for small business owners but I’m not sure that Americans will still be able to afford individual plans.

Trump has proposed increasing the limits on healthcare spending accounts and give Americans more tax breaks for their healthcare. This will benefit those who make enough money to actually have a healthcare savings account (HAS), which is not the majority of Americans. This also suggests that Americans will carry the brunt of the cost of their healthcare.

Trump has also proposed to cut grants for Medicaid entitlements. This could signify a decrease in benefits, as well as millions of Americans losing their healthcare. 

I’m not sure if our new president-elect will be successful and carry through his proposed healthcare initiatives, but many of them are frightening.