Reader responds to letter to the editor regarding healthcare

This is in response to Mike Coon’s letter (October 25) about President Trump’s “Health Care Plan”. What I read was that President Trump has several initiatives, which will benefit some, especially those who already have insurance, but nothing like a comprehensive plan which could replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also dubbed “Obamacare”. The initiatives mention include decreasing prescription drug prices, addressing “surprise medical billing” , expanding deductions available through health savings accounts, and expanding Telehealth. These all have broad support, and did not necessarily originate with Trump, although he has promoted them. The Affordable Care Act already addressed pre-existing conditions and prevents health care plans on the exchange from excluding pre-existing conditions from coverage. To claim that this is a “new” plan being ushered in by President Trump is misleading.

What is really needed, however, and not addressed by President Trump or by Mike Coons in his letter, is a comprehensive plan, promised by President Trump Jan 2017 as insurance for everyone, with lower premiums. Although wonderful health care is promised regularly by President Trump, nothing along these lines is on the horizon. The lack of any proposal for an actual plan is especially urgent now, as millions are losing their health coverage through loss of jobs with the coronovirus epidemic. What we really need is a comprehensive plan to increase access and fill in the gaps that exist in the ACA, Medicare, Medicaid, and Military/VA coverage. Without looking at the overall health care system and improving accessibility, the initiatives described are helpful to some, but only band aids to the millions who have no health insurance at all.

Linda Sloan MD,

Retired family practice physician