The tension between Trump and Obama-era accomplishments have been exacerbated by the announcement of an executive order to dismantle Obamacare. Earlier this October, President Trump signed an executive order detailing the new guidelines that will affect a plethora of people under Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act.
A bill turned law that defined Former President Barack Obama's administration, the Affordable Care Act has created new exchanges to allow healthcare insurance recipients to access private insurance. In doing so, many people have subscribed to private insurers with the aid of government subsidies that allow insurance companies to offer benefits at affordable prices. Most important to elder Obamacare supporters, is the lowered cost of premiums and prescription drugs for senior citizens. Other Obamacare changes to the insurance marketplace included required mental health services, maternity care and acceptance of patients despite any pre-existing conditions. By this year, the subsidies under Obamacare were to reach $9 billion and further increase to approximately $100 billion in the next ten years.
As a result of the new executive order, drastic changes will be brought to the insurance marketplace, such as higher premiums and the withdrawal of insurance companies form the marketplace itself. Due to the executive order's elimination of subsidies, short-term healthcare plans would be expanded. These plans, which do not fall under Obamacare's benefits, can attract healthier citizens that can afford such premiums. The aftermath of short-term plan expansion can result in higher costs for those who remain in plans under the Affordable Care Act.
Although the executive order tackling healthcare reform is a bold action against the former legislations under the Obamacare administration, it is not the first. Recent negotiations with foreign powers have led to the reversal of decisions by Obama. President Trump has recently announced plans to unravel the nuclear deal with Iran, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. In addition to the U.S, nations such as the United Kingdom, Russia, France, China and Germany are involved in the agreement. An Obama-era agreement established in 2015, the agreement established a reduction in nuclear research and uranium production. In return, world powers would lift economic sanctions for the Middle Eastern nation.
New developments under the Trump administration may lead to U.S withdrawal from the agreement. Concerning the accord, Trump has asserted that the deal does not benefit the U.S, stating that Iran has not "lived up" to all the established conditions of the agreement. Future actions against the arrangement will reportedly include launching a congressional review for the agreement, which would allow Congress sixty days to generate future steps towards modifying or potentially nullifying the deal. In response to President Trump's decision, Iran President Hassan Rouhani has denounced Trump's assertions, stating "this is an international multilateral deal. It is not a document between Iran and the United States that he can treat the way that he likes." Likewise, Germany prime minister Sigmar Gabriel has said that there may be looming consequences in relation to ending the deal. According to Gabriel, ending the deal and regenerating sanctions may very well lead to war.
- https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/12/us/politics/trump-obamacare-executive-order-health-insurance.html
- http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/05/politics/trump-iran-deal-deadline-plan/index.html
- http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/10/14/germany_s_foreign_minister_warns_trump_s_iran_move_increases_risk_of_war.html
