Healthcare Under Trump And Biden: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Chloe Fitzgerald

5 min read

Post on May 16, 2025

4.8

Share

The Trump Administration's Healthcare Policies

The Trump administration's healthcare agenda largely centered on dismantling the ACA and promoting market-based solutions.

Attempts to Repeal and Replace the ACA

A primary focus of the Trump administration was repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. These efforts, however, largely failed to gain legislative traction.

• American Health Care Act (AHCA): This bill, introduced in 2017, aimed to replace the ACA but ultimately failed to pass the Senate. It proposed significant changes to Medicaid funding and insurance market regulations.
• Continued Attempts: Throughout Trump's presidency, further attempts were made to undermine the ACA through legislative means, all ultimately unsuccessful.
• Executive Actions: In the absence of legislative success, the administration employed executive actions to weaken the ACA, such as reducing the ACA's advertising budget and shortening the open enrollment period.

These actions resulted in increased uncertainty in the healthcare market, impacting insurance coverage and premiums. Millions of Americans faced potential loss of coverage or higher healthcare costs. Keywords like ACA repeal, Obamacare repeal, executive orders, and healthcare deregulation are central to understanding this period.

Focus on Deregulation and Market-Based Solutions

The Trump administration advocated for deregulation to increase competition and lower healthcare costs.

• Reduced Regulations on Insurers: The administration eased regulations on health insurance companies, allowing them more flexibility in designing plans.
• Association Health Plans: The administration expanded the availability of association health plans, which are often less comprehensive than ACA-compliant plans.
• Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance Plans: The administration broadened the availability of these less comprehensive and often cheaper plans, potentially impacting the ACA’s risk pool.

The impact of these deregulation efforts on consumer choice and competition remains a subject of debate, with some arguing it led to greater choice, while others point to reduced consumer protections. The administration’s stance on pre-existing conditions, a key provision of the ACA, also drew considerable criticism. Relevant keywords include healthcare deregulation, market-based healthcare, competition in healthcare, and pre-existing conditions.

Changes to Medicaid and Medicare

The Trump administration also sought changes to Medicaid and Medicare, aiming to control costs.

• Work Requirements for Medicaid: Several states, encouraged by the administration, implemented work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, impacting access to care for low-income individuals.
• Changes to Medicare Advantage: The administration made adjustments to the Medicare Advantage program, impacting the range and cost of plans available to seniors.
• Reduced Funding: Proposals to reduce funding for both Medicaid and Medicare were debated but did not fully materialize in substantial cuts during his term.

These changes raised concerns about access to care, particularly for vulnerable populations. Keywords such as Medicaid cuts, Medicare changes, healthcare funding, and vulnerable populations are crucial in this context.

The Biden Administration's Healthcare Policies

The Biden administration, in stark contrast, has focused on strengthening and expanding the ACA and addressing healthcare affordability and access.

Strengthening and Expanding the ACA

President Biden has made strengthening and expanding the ACA a core priority.

• Increased Subsidies: The American Rescue Plan significantly increased subsidies available through the ACA marketplaces, making health insurance more affordable for millions.
• Extended Enrollment Period: The administration extended the open enrollment period for ACA plans, providing more opportunities for individuals to obtain coverage.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Significant efforts were made to increase public awareness of ACA benefits and enrollment options.

These initiatives have led to increased enrollment and affordability of health insurance under the ACA. Keywords like ACA expansion, Obamacare enrollment, affordable healthcare, and healthcare subsidies are essential here.

Addressing Healthcare Costs and Affordability

Lowering healthcare costs is a major focus of the Biden administration.

• Negotiating Drug Prices: The administration is working to lower prescription drug prices through government negotiation with pharmaceutical companies.
• Increased Transparency: Efforts are underway to increase transparency in healthcare pricing, empowering consumers to make informed decisions.
• Addressing Surprise Medical Bills: Measures are being taken to address surprise medical billing, a significant driver of unexpected healthcare costs.

These initiatives aim to reduce overall healthcare expenses and enhance affordability. Keywords like drug pricing, healthcare costs, healthcare transparency, and healthcare affordability are relevant here.

Expanding Access to Healthcare

Expanding healthcare access for underserved communities is another key goal.

• Investing in Community Health Centers: Increased funding has been allocated to community health centers, expanding access to care in underserved areas.
• Addressing Health Disparities: The administration is working to address health disparities based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.
• Expanding Coverage: Proposals for expanding Medicare benefits or coverage have been discussed but are facing political challenges.

These policies are focused on improving health equity and reducing healthcare disparities. Keywords such as healthcare access, health equity, health disparities, and Medicare expansion are important here.

Conclusion

The Trump and Biden administrations represent dramatically different approaches to healthcare in the United States. Trump's emphasis on deregulation and market-based solutions aimed to reduce the role of government, potentially at the expense of consumer protections and access for vulnerable populations. Conversely, Biden's focus on strengthening and expanding the ACA, controlling costs, and expanding access prioritizes a more active government role in ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare for all Americans. Understanding these contrasting approaches to healthcare under Trump and Biden is crucial for informed engagement in political discourse and shaping the future of healthcare in the United States. Continue researching the complexities of healthcare under Trump and Biden to stay informed and advocate for the changes you believe are necessary.