How health care could change under the new Trump administration

President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming term is expected to significantly reshape U.S. health care policies. Key changes may include the scaling back of public health insurance programs, which could lead to a higher uninsured rate and new restrictions on abortion access, including possible limitations on mailing abortion medications. Trump’s administration may impose work requirements for Medicaid, cut funding for public health programs, and enable alternative insurance plans that bypass ACA protections, potentially raising costs for sicker individuals.

A vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is among Trump’s advisors, sparking concerns about weakened support for public health interventions. Trump’s administration might reduce government spending on Medicaid and prioritize minimizing waste and fraud within health care. While Trump has promised to preserve Medicare and supports drug price negotiation, concerns about cuts to Medicaid remain. Reproductive health could see tighter restrictions, but Trump indicates he may leave some abortion policies to the states. Public health experts worry these changes could lead to preventable illnesses and diminish public trust in established science and health safeguards.

Source: NPR