President Trump’s health care plan, which aims to cut costs by sending money directly to policyholders instead of insurance companies, has sparked controversy amid the government shutdown. The proposal has been criticized for lacking strong evidence and would lead to significant costs for consumers.
The plan assumes that giving patients a bigger role in purchasing their own care will lower costs and improve health outcomes. However, research suggests that financial incentives and information about prices can shape behavior for patients seeking elective care, but this kind of spending is a small share of the country’s health care bill.
Millions of Americans who lose access to subsidies next year will face a jump in premiums, with some cases seeing hundreds of dollars more per month. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that two million Americans will lose insurance altogether next year as prices rise.
The Trump administration has proposed an alternative to Obamacare, but its effectiveness is untested. Democrats have emphasized the need to extend health care subsidies to mitigate the impact on consumers. Despite repeated promises to offer a better plan, Mr. Trump’s proposal lacks concrete details and faces significant opposition from both parties.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/us/politics/trump-shutdown-health-care-costs-aca.html