There is a lot of uncertainty on the future of healthcare since the presidential election. Patients and healthcare providers alike are grappling with this uncertainty, as there is a lot we simply don’t know. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to repeal Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act (ACA), but what does this mean for the health insurance landscape? Below, are some non-partisan articles examining possible scenarios and what could come next.
Many experts agree that overhauling the ACA would take time. It is unlikely that anything will change in 2017, as “It’s a complex process to alter a law as complicated as the ACA,” said Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University, in a Kaiser Health News article.
According to Elizabeth Hagen, senior policy analyst for Families USA, Republican proposals to repeal the ACA will likely include a transition period so people do not experience a sudden disruption in coverage. Read more of her blog here.
About 20 million people have gained health insurance coverage since the ACA was implemented.
According to Connect for Health Colorado’s CEO Kevin Patterson, until the new administration and Congress develop a new direction, the health insurance marketplace will continue with normal operations.
“We urge our customers to continue to shop for the best coverage for themselves and their families in 2017 and complete their enrollment by Dec. 15, 2016, to avoid a gap in coverage,” Patterson said in an email statement to stakeholders. About 168,000 Colorado residents have healthcare coverage through Connect for Health Colorado.
More articles:
- Day One And Beyond: What Trump’s Election Means For The ACA by Timothy Jost, J.D. Jost is an Emeritus Professor at the Washington and Lee University School of Law. He is a member of the Institute of Medicine and a consumer liaison representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioner.
- Trump, GOP In Congress Could Use ‘Must-Pass’ Bills To Bring Health Changes by Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News. Learn more about the process it would take to repeal the ACA and major health issues that are certain to come up in 2017.
- Families USA Webinar: Health Advocacy after the 2016 Election Access the archived webinar to learn more about what the election results mean for health advocacy priorities.
- How Trump Could Repeal Several Parts of the Affordable Care Act by Alison Kodjak, National Public Radio. NPR sorts through the options and looks at how existing Obamacare insurance plans will be affected.
- The future of public health under President Trump. John McDonough, professor of public health at Harvard Chan School, who worked in the Senate on the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), offers his perspective in this Q&A.
Compiled by Erin Martinez, PNTC Communications Manager