Trump’s Reversal of Biden’s Health Policies: Impact on the Affordable Care Act and Drug Pricing Regulations

President Donald Trump’s swift reversal of Biden’s health policies sparks controversy and concerns about healthcare access.

Key Takeaways

Trump signed executive orders rescinding Biden’s protections for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid.
Biden’s initiatives like the $35 insulin cap and Medicare’s drug pricing negotiations remain unaffected.
Trump’s actions indicate a potential unwillingness to continue Biden’s health care policies.
The Democratic National Committee condemned Trump’s actions, stating they would increase healthcare costs and reduce coverage.
Experts suggest Trump’s actions might not significantly impact healthcare costs for Americans.

Trump’s Day One Health Policy Reversals

In a decisive move, President Donald Trump has begun to dismantle key health policies implemented by the Biden administration. On his first day back in office, Trump signed executive orders rescinding several of Biden’s healthcare initiatives, particularly those aimed at expanding and strengthening the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Trump’s actions included revoking Biden’s Executive Order 14009, which had extended the ACA’s open enrollment period and directed agencies to increase coverage. Additionally, Trump reversed Biden’s efforts to reduce medical debt burdens and rescinded orders related to lowering prescription drug costs.

Impact on the Affordable Care Act

The reversal of Biden’s ACA-related policies has raised concerns about the future of healthcare coverage for millions of Americans. Trump has consistently aimed to repeal the ACA, which protects over 100 million Americans with preexisting conditions. His previous attempt to repeal the act fell one vote short in 2017, and he has pledged to continue efforts to dismantle it.

“Donald Trump’s immediate priority as president is ripping away affordable health care coverage for tens of millions of Americans and screwing over people with preexisting conditions. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration, more Americans have health coverage than ever before, and Trump wants to unwind this progress even though the American people overwhelmingly support the ACA. Trump’s plans will do nothing but raise costs and make Americans sicker.” – Alex Floyd

Critics argue that Trump’s actions could lead to increased healthcare costs and reduced coverage. However, some health policy experts suggest that these initial reversals might not significantly impact healthcare costs for most Americans.

Immediately upon taking office Trump will reverse Biden’s executive orders within hours of entering the White House.

These are some of the things he’s sure to reverse:

Drug Prices: Biden let Medicare negotiate drug prices to save seniors money. Trump’s planning to roll that…

— chris evans (@notcapnamerica) January 20, 2025

Drug Pricing and Other Health Policies

Beyond the ACA, Trump’s executive orders also targeted Biden’s efforts to lower prescription drug costs. However, it’s worth noting that some of Biden’s key initiatives, such as the $35 insulin cap, $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs, and Medicare’s drug pricing negotiations, remain unaffected by Trump’s initial actions.

“When administrations change over, many of them want to undo some of the actions of other presidents, even when those are more symbolic.” – Stacie Dusetzina

Trump’s approach to healthcare in his second term appears different from his first. While he acknowledges high U.S. healthcare costs and the potential need for government intervention, it remains unclear whether he supports Medicare’s drug price negotiations, a key Biden policy that experts hope will be maintained.

Looking Ahead

As the healthcare landscape shifts under the new administration, many are questioning what Trump’s long-term plans for healthcare reform might be. When asked about his healthcare plan during the campaign, Trump stated, “We have concepts of a plan that would be better.” However, a fully developed healthcare plan has yet to be presented.

The coming months will likely see further developments in healthcare policy as the Trump administration continues to reshape the landscape left by the Biden-Harris administration. As these changes unfold, their impact on Americans’ access to healthcare and the overall cost of medical services will become clearer.