How the 2024 Election will Impact Healthcare Policy in the U.S.
Written by: Maia Hernandez | Edited by: Nathan Hahn
In the U.S., healthcare policy has been widely debated in the political atmosphere. Some argue for an expansion of entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, while others say that healthcare should function as an individual market system. I will be providing a brief outline of the implications of the 2024 election on the healthcare policy landscape in the U.S. It is predicted that the upcoming presidential administration will impact key healthcare policies such as the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, public health initiatives, access to reproductive care, and more.
Affordable Care Act
- Based on a history of attempts to repeal or modify portions of the Affordable Care Act, it is very likely that the Republican party will continue to chip away at the act now that they have control of the Presidency and both chambers of Congress—having much less opposition now as compared to what they had faced in past attempts. The results of these efforts might include reductions of subsidies to beneficiaries, reforming Medicaid programs, fewer regulations on equitable insurance provision, and more. Many of these adjustments will lead to less taxpayer money being poured into healthcare services, while on the other hand, leaving many patients who are older or with chronic health conditions with fewer financial options for care.
Medicaid
- In the past, the Trump administration has attempted to pass a work requirement in order to be eligible for Medicaid, an entitlement program that supports low-income individuals, ultimately minimizing eligibility for the program. Additionally, he has attempted to cap funding for the program through the introduction of block grants, sums of money allocated to cover the costs of a particular case. However, they do not respond to factors such as changing healthcare costs, often leaving insufficient funding for beneficiaries.
Public Health and Vaccines
- Trump has also pledged to allow Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to pursue public health reforms under his platform “Make America Healthy Again” which will aim to create major adjustments to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other federal agencies. An example of a reform he is looking to pursue is to eliminate fluoride from U.S. drinking water, one of the largest public health initiatives currently in place to improve dental health in the general population.
Reproductive Rights
- While Trump has sworn not to sign a national abortion ban, he is likely to promote policies that will create major barriers to access to the procedure. This may include restrictions on the mailing of abortion pills to patients in states where the procedure is banned. He has also made statements that he intends to roll back access to gender-reaffirming procedures for transgender individuals. It is also expected that the Trump administration is likely to set restrictions on access and coverage to in-vitro fertilization.
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