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Fact Sheets

President Donald J. Trump’s Policies are Helping to Achieve Greater Choice and Lower Health Insurance Premiums

Healthcare

Issued on:

LOWERING HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS: Americans will see lower average individual market premiums on the Federal health insurance exchange in 2019.

  • President Trump has already opened up affordable options outside of Obamacare and restored freedom by signing legislation that eliminated the individual mandate penalty.
  • Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the average premium for Obamacare plans on the Federal exchange will drop by 1.5 percent in 2019.
    • This marks the only average premium decline since Obamacare took effect in 2014.
    • Many States will see rates drop more substantially, including a 26 percent drop in Tennessee and 16 percent drop in Pennsylvania.
    • The change in rates in most States represents a dramatic departure from the double-digit premium increases Americans experienced in recent years.
  • Americans will see greater insurer participation in 2019 compared to previous years.
    • There will be 23 new insurers in 2019 and 29 insurers are expanding their service area.
    • The share of counties on the Federal exchange with only one insurer will drop from 56 percent in 2018 to 39 percent in 2019.
    • Only four States will have only one insurer in 2019, compared to ten in 2018.

EXPANDING OPTIONS AND DROPPING PRICES: President Trump is working to improve healthcare for Americans by expanding health coverage options and reining in drug prices.

  • The Trump Administration has worked to increase options for consumers through expanded short-term, limited-duration insurance plans and expanded Association Health Plans.
    • Short-term, limited-duration plans are not subject to burdensome Obamacare rules and are projected to be 50 to 80 percent more affordable than Obamacare plans.
    • Through expanded Association Health Plans, President Trump has made it easier for employers to join together to offer more affordable coverage to their workers.
  • President Trump has released a blueprint to drive down drug prices for American patients.
    • As a result, 15 drug manufacturers have already announced price freezes, reductions, and rollbacks.

IMPROVING INSURANCE MARKETS: President Donald J. Trump’s policies are helping to remedy the chaos caused by Obamacare.

  • Since taking office, President Trump has made it a priority to alleviate the burden placed on Americans by the failures of Obamacare, in part by working more closely with States.
    • In 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order to help minimize the financial burden felt by American households due to Obamacare.
  • Premium reductions on Federal exchanges and increased insurer participation are encouraging signs after years of rising premiums and limited choices.
    • Before the President took office, the average individual market premiums more than doubled, from $2,784 in 2013 to $5,712 in 2017 – a 105 percent increase.
  • Obamacare left millions with no affordable choices as it severely restricted the short-term, limited-duration market and left more than half of all counties with only one insurer.