Vance Reshapes the Narrative on Trump & Obamacare

On September 15, 2024, Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and discussed former President Donald Trump’s actions concerning the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Vance, who is aligned with Trump, stated that Trump had a choice to either dismantle or enhance the ACA, ultimately choosing the latter.

“Donald Trump had two choices,” Vance asserted. “He could have destroyed the program, or he could actually build upon it and make it better so that Americans didn’t lose a lot of health care.” However, this claim has come under scrutiny in light of Trump’s past actions regarding the ACA.

The context for Vance’s remarks stems from a recent debate in which Trump claimed to have “saved” the ACA. Enrollment figures associated with the ACA have seen a notable increase, with over 20 million Americans participating in health coverage plans this year alone. This surge poses a challenge for Republicans who previously sought to repeal the legislation.

Investigative reviews highlight that both Vance’s and Trump’s claims lack accuracy. The Trump administration largely focused on reducing support for the ACA, including cuts to marketing and enrollment assistance. For instance, in June 2020, Trump’s administration pursued a Supreme Court case aimed at overturning the ACA, which was ultimately rejected.

Sabrina Corlette, co-director at the Center on Health Insurance Reforms, commented that the ACA’s survival during Trump’s presidency reflects its inherent strength and public support. The key provisions of the ACA originated in 2014 under President Obama’s administration. By 2018, premium costs had begun to increase, largely due to decisions made by the Trump administration.

Notably, Trump’s administration halted crucial cost-sharing payments to insurers, which had previously helped maintain affordable healthcare options for low- and moderate-income individuals. This decision prompted warnings from the Congressional Budget Office, predicting that premiums could rise significantly. Subsequently, some states allowed insurers to raise their premiums, inadvertently increasing federal subsidies.

This unexpected outcome provided greater access to affordable healthcare plans for many, though it was not the intended goal of the Trump administration, according to health policy experts. Some conservatives argue that these less expensive plans broadened coverage options, yet detractors label them “junk insurance” due to limited benefits.

Throughout his presidency, Trump attempted multiple times to repeal and replace the ACA, but none of those efforts succeeded. Despite ongoing claims of an alternative plan, such proposals remained unfulfilled. During the recent debate, Trump reiterated that plans to replace the ACA would be shared soon.

However, Vance did not confirm a timeline for the release of such plans during his television appearance. He remarked that any forthcoming proposal would involve deregulating the insurance market, which critics assert could risk access to affordable care for those with preexisting conditions.

Ultimately, Vance’s statement about Trump improving the ACA contradicts historical data. Under Trump, ACA enrollment saw a decline, with over two million Americans losing coverage and the number of uninsured individuals climbing by 2.3 million, as documented by the U.S. Census Bureau.

In conclusion, claims that Trump bolstered the ACA during his presidency do not align with the record, leading to the assessment that such assertions are false.