Trump executive orders threaten healthcare of millions of Americans
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Orders repeal directives expanding healthcare access and options for lower-income and middle-class Americans. Within his first 48 hours back in office, Trump has signed several executive orders that threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. Amid a flurry of executive orders, some of which were signed live on TV on inauguration night, the US president issued several orders that repeal Biden-era directives that had expanded healthcare access and options for lower-income and middle-class Americans.
Those orders are expected to affect the medical insurance coverage for upwards of 20m people in the US. “The previous administration has embedded deeply unpopular, inflationary, illegal, and radical practices within every agency and office of the Federal Government,” Trump said in the official statement, which referenced several health-related orders.The statement goes on to accuse diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies of having “corrupted” institutions for Americans.
Those people whose coverage is now deemed at risk are the roughly 24 million Americans who have purchased their health insurance via the Affordable Care Act this year. The ACA, also known as Obamacare, helped to expand Medicaid benefits and provides affordable health insurance to millions of people.
Trump’s actions this week will affect all aspects of the ACA, including eligibility requirements, federal subsidies and enrollment deadlines, which determine when Americans can apply for insurance, without repealing the act, which would take action from the US Congress. But the actions are expected to create more barriers and result in healthcare coverage becoming even less accessible.
