WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Washington Examiner reported on President Trump’s comments regarding issuing an executive order that would enable Americans to buy health insurance across state lines. For several months, U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul has been working with the administration to achieve such a change by expanding existing federal regulations concerning association health plans, which would allow more Americans to obtain quality, lower-cost coverage.
“The health care debate is not over. Conservatives are still fighting for free-market reforms to the health care system. I am excited to be working with President Trump on this initiative,” said Dr. Paul in response to today’s news.
You can read the article HERE or below:
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President Trump is preparing an executive order to allow Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines, a reform conservatives have long championed as a way to bring costs down and stir greater competition in the national marketplace.
The executive action gives the White House a chance to follow through on at least one promise related to healthcare reform, after Senate Republicans’ second attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare failed this week. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul first mentioned the action during a TV appearance Wednesday morning, saying Trump was considering taking matters into his own hands.
“I think there’s going to be big news from the White House in the next week or two, something they can do on their own,” Paul told MSNBC, adding that Trump “can legalize on his own the ability of individuals to join a group or a health association across state lines and buy insurance.”
A Senate GOP source told the Washington Examiner the executive action is considered “a done deal” and likely to be announced “in the next few weeks.”
Trump later confirmed to reporters he is likely to issue an order permitting “people to go out across state lines, do lots of things, and buy their own healthcare.”
The president described the forthcoming executive action as “very major,” adding he also intends to spend the next few months negotiating with Democrats on a bipartisan healthcare bill.
Paul said he has discussed the proposal with the president and Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta on “multiple occasions” while the Senate was focused on advancing the Graham-Cassidy bill, which was pulled from a vote on Tuesday.
A White House spokesman declined to provide details on the executive order.
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Rand Paul is the man.
Well at least he is trying to make a difference. Who knows where that goes, to the courts I suppose. To a paradise called Hawaii who will fry the order. Lol
Competition? What’s that?
I cannot wait until Admin posts the great news (sarcastic) about the proposed tax plan.
This is a great thing towards offsetting Obamacare, but I’m betting the Court will end up deciding whether or not Trump has the authority to do this as there are several States and other organizations I think may challenge it as an unconstitutional usurpation of Congressional authority.
I think you are right Anon, this is another in a long line of “Trump tried” plans that are never going to happen because others thwarted his efforts.
I’m not getting it. If all policies sold must have the essentials of Obamacare how can they be cheaper?
It’s called competition.
Anon:
Explain that competition when they have to offer Obamacare compliant policies.
Different companies competing with each other over the price they charge for it.
That’s the definition of competition, it shouldn’t be hard to understand.
Anon:
Where’s the great competition now? They’re all jacking up their premiums for the individual unsubsidized market. There are four states that currently allow purchasing across state lines including one that has been allowing it for 4 years, and yet, not a single company has applied to sell their products across line in one of those states.
From Mr. Liberty below: “Of course without repealing Obamacare, and all the destruction it has done to the insurance marketplace, this will mean far less than it would have 10 years ago. Today there are SO MANY RESTRICTIONS on what MUST be covered, who must be covered, and so much more, that there is little difference from state to state as there was when the STATES dictated these things.”
Well, this XO by Trump is directly about that issue.
Non competing protected and dictated market zones quash competition since there is no need for it.
Anon:
You still don’t address how. As I said. Some states already allow it but no company is participating. How does adding more states change that? There must be something more that just saying competition.
If the groups could self fund, that could make a difference
If like one large employer, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates average family group premiums at $19,000 a year
Competition is a beautiful thing, I think this could be good.
If the majority of the people agree this is good, who will bring this to court? Who will argue against cheaper, quality health insurance?
FINALLY THE WORTHLESS GOVERNMENT is using the “Interstate Commerce Clause” for WHAT IT WAS INTENDED – to MAKE COMMERCE REGULAR.
Of course without repealing Obamacare, and all the destruction it has done to the insurance marketplace, this will mean far less than it would have 10 years ago. Today there are SO MANY RESTRICTIONS on what MUST be covered, who must be covered, and so much more, that there is little difference from state to state as there was when the STATES dictated these things. Why the fucking state legislatures felt the need to MANDATE what must be covered by EVERY POLICY (it used to be 23 separate mandates in GA alone) is beyond me. Why someone cannot simply purchase a policy that covers only accidents, or only cancer, or wants to cover everything humanly imaginable, is also beyond me. With these Obamacare mandates gone, interstate sales will FORCE worthless nanny-states to roll back their individual mandates as other states with better options, greater choice, etc. will get all the business. And unless Congress does the right thing (yeah, like that is ever going to happen), another Executive Order from some future emperor will simply take us back to our current un-free state. But a tine step in the direction of freedom is a step nonetheless.
WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP! Across state lines? So what? Its still Obamacare you fool! This idiot is trying to save this garbage tax. Some states are gonna see no “providers” of garbage taxation since no one will pay for NOTHING. This idiot is just trying to force you to keep buying garbage fake insurance if your state has no “providers”!
What else can be done by Trump as President by his own authority without any aid or support from Congress in the form of legislative repeal or change?
A serious question.
What would you have him do (something the Court can’t just overrule because he has no authority to do it, which may happen to this move anyway).
Anon:
Jeebus, why didn’t you just scream, competition?
I already have.
Some people don’t seem to fully understand it or the importance of it.
Anon :
You haven’t explained the importance of “how it is going to work.”
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Bend the knee and acknowledge the genius of your commander-in-chief.
Next comes actual enforcement of antitrust laws. Ain’t one Congressman needed for that.
Congress had it’s chance. Now it’s DT’s turn.
Ding Ding Ding. We have a winner. Antitrust law enforcement would be the nail in the health care monopoly. Frog march a couple of pharma / hospital execs out of their plush offices, and we’ll see how fast health care costs comes down. I would bet 50% by the next day, and then a price war in the coming months, ultimately culminating in about 80% reduction within a year.
Ending government protectionism of the entire medical industry would be a FAR BETTER APPROACH. Anti-trust laws are ONLY needed to fix the original problem of government protecting businesses from competition via regulations, tariffs, subsidies, permits, licensure, etc.
So Obummer constructed the “Dreamer” E.O. usurping Congressional authority, but Trump can’t do the same with Obummercare by E.O….. I hope he does and it can stand up to all of the crap that will come at it. I hate vesting so much in the Executive branch because, by design, the President was never intended to have this much absolute authority. Congress has abdicated their Constitutional role to become corporate wh#res, so we now are stuck hoping for edicts from the President.
This comes as excellent news, at least to test the cross state lines theory. Anything that creates some competition is welcome in my opinion.