Summary: Now that we have some distance from Donald Trump’s election victory on Tuesday, we can look to what’s ahead and where we fit in. Trump has been quoted as saying that he will repeal the entire Affordable Care Act, and also that he would repeal only parts of it. Not much is certain at this point.
It’s worth remembering that the insurance companies, the drug companies and hospitals benefited greatly from the A.C.A. So did a vast number of intermediaries. Taxpayer dollars have subsidized insurance for millions of people, who then went out and bought health care. Health stocks boomed, and health sector employment did too. Also, there are certain things a president cannot do without the approval of Congress. And once any attempt at repeal comes to the fore, we can expect armies of lobbyists protecting the interests of their clients.
Despite this uncertainty, we can be sure of a few things. Many people will lose their health insurance in some not especially predictable fashion. The uncertainty will mean that more marketplace actors will be seeking to protect or enlarge their piece of the pie, so we should all keep our hands on our wallets. There will be a lot of anxiety, and a lot of attempts to spin public opinion, so we should all remain as calm and as fact-based and logical as possible.
One other thing is certain: Our work here at ClearHealthCosts is more important now than ever.
We will continue to give you reliable, unbiased, trustworthy information, and to relieve your anxieties in any way possible. For example, if you need a procedure, check out our blog and our price lists to see the variations in pricing, and make the best decisions you can for your health and your pocketbook. If your medication prices skyrocket, use our prescription shopping resources. Got a question? Then go to the blog and search for your topic; chances are, we’ve covered it. Or email me! I’m jeanne@clearhealthcosts.com.
And remember this: For routine procedures and for many medications, the cash market is just not that scary. We would never recommend that anyone go without insurance, but we hear a lot from people saying they were insured but they paid less in cash than they would have using their insurance. I’ve written about this and so have others: The Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal.
Also: Your generosity has brought us to over a third of our goal in our crowdfunding campaign on iFundWomen. We need more help, so please: call out to your networks and ask them to support us. Send them this note, with our link to our iFundWomen page. Together we are strong.
We are here to help you through the next few months and years with as much knowledge as we can supply, and we are grateful for the support and trust you have placed in us. And now, back to work.
Jeanne and the ClearHealthCosts team
