1. Sabotaging Health Insurance Markets: The Trump administration’s actions to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have led to increased premiums and decreased enrollment, making healthcare less affordable for families.
  2. Expanding Junk Insurance Plans: The administration’s expansion of short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) plans, also known as junk plans, has driven up costs for families by drawing healthy individuals away from comprehensive plans, increasing premiums for those who need coverage.
  3. Increasing Prescription Drug Costs: The Trump administration’s policies have failed to address the root causes of high prescription drug prices, allowing pharmaceutical companies to continue price-gouging, and passing the costs on to families.
  4. Cutting Funding for Health Programs: The administration’s cuts to funding for health programs, such as the ACA’s navigator program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have reduced access to healthcare services and driven up costs for families.
  5. Promoting Health Care Consolidation: The Trump administration’s policies have encouraged consolidation in the healthcare industry, leading to decreased competition and increased costs for families, as large healthcare systems and insurers use their market power to drive up prices.

by | Sep 19, 2025 | Care, Insurance

The Center for American Progress has identified 5 ways the Trump administration is driving up healthcare costs for families.

  1. Expanding Junk Insurance Plans: The Trump administration has expanded the availability of short-term, limited-duration insurance (STLDI) plans, which do not provide comprehensive coverage and can leave families with significant medical bills. These plans, often referred to as “junk insurance,” can deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, exclude essential health benefits, and impose lifetime limits on care. By promoting these plans, the administration is undermining the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and driving up costs for families who need comprehensive coverage.

  2. Sabotaging the ACA: The Trump administration has taken multiple steps to sabotage the ACA, including ending outreach and enrollment efforts, slashing funding for navigator programs, and encouraging states to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients. These actions have led to higher premiums and reduced enrollment, making it more difficult for families to access affordable healthcare.

  3. Increasing Prescription Drug Costs: The Trump administration has failed to take meaningful action to address the rising cost of prescription drugs. Instead, it has proposed policies that would further increase costs, such as allowing pharmaceutical companies to negotiate prices with Medicare. This inaction has resulted in higher out-of-pocket costs for families, making it more difficult for them to afford the medications they need.

  4. Cutting Funding for Health Programs: The Trump administration has proposed significant cuts to health programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and community health centers. These cuts would have a devastating impact on families who rely on these programs for access to healthcare, forcing them to seek more expensive care or go without necessary treatment.

  5. Promoting Health Care Consolidation: The Trump administration has promoted policies that encourage consolidation in the healthcare industry, leading to higher costs and reduced competition. For example, the administration has proposed mergers between health insurance companies and hospital systems, which can result in higher premiums and reduced access to care. By promoting consolidation, the administration is driving up healthcare costs for families and reducing the quality of care they receive.

Overall, the Trump administration’s policies are driving up healthcare costs for families and reducing their access to comprehensive, affordable care. By expanding junk insurance plans, sabotaging the ACA, increasing prescription drug costs, cutting funding for health programs, and promoting healthcare consolidation, the administration is putting the interests of corporations and special interest groups ahead of the needs of families.