this came from forbs Q: About 15 years ago, Mr.
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Q: About 15 years ago, Mr. Trump publicly pledged his support for universal health care, and said that he’s “liberal” when it comes to expanding coverage. Is that still the case?
A: Donald Trump has never supported socialized medicine. In ‘The America We Deserve,’ Mr. Trump called for health market reforms that would be “affordable, well-administrated, and provide freedom of choice.” He supported a universal “market-based” plan that would offer a range of choices.
Mr. Trump does not believe socialized medicine is the solution to expanding coverage. The federal government is clearly incapable of managing [one-fifth] of the total economy. The ObamaCare federal and state exchange websites, which cost over $5 billion, could not even operate properly.
The only solution is a free market orientated [sic.] plan that provides consumer choice, keeps plans portable and affordable and returns authority to the states. We also must break the insurance company monopolies and allow individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines.
Q: Mr. Trump has spoken out about the Affordable Care Act, arguing that the law would “take down our economy,” especially once the law’s provisions kicked in in 2014.
Given that the U.S. unemployment rate has dropped below 6% and that the ACA’s projected costs have only fallen since it was passed, does he still believe that?
A: President Obama promised that ObamaCare would not add “one dime to the deficit” in 2009. ObamaCare is now projected to cost the federal government at least $1.2 trillion between 2016 and 2025. Our national debt is fast approaching $20 trillion and ObamaCare is clearly a contributing factor to the record rate that debt is rising.
Mr. Trump believes that the real unemployment rate is over 18%, not the reported 5.5%. This while ObamaCare’s employer mandate has been delayed until 2016. If the mandate is ever fully implemented, even more Americans will be unemployed.
ObamaCare continues to hurt the economy. Our first quarter GDP was -0.7%. [DD note: On Thursday, the Commerce Department revised first quarter GDP to a positive 0.6%.] There is a causal connection as ObamaCare stops companies from expanding and also makes more workers part time.
Over 70% of our GDP comes from personal consumption. The ObamaCare mandate reduces disposable income for all Americans and therefore will continue to reduce our GDP. Plus, the dramatic increase in premiums have steadily continued in 2014 and 2015. Many insurers are calling for double digit increases in 2016. ObamaCare is clearly unsalvageable and unmanageable.
Q: Given his historic commitment to universal health care, how does Mr. Trump feel about the U.S. uninsured rate hitting historic lows, likely because of the Affordable Care Act?
A: Mr. Trump supports a universal “market-based” plan that would offer a range of choices.
At least 70% of ObamaCare enrollees were previously insured. They did not gain coverage and in many cases were dropped from their plans. ObamaCare’s premiums continue to rise and the rising cost curve of healthcare is also unsustainable. Further, the vast majority of ObamaCare enrollees are joining Medicaid. Employer group coverage continues to drop. This is clearly not the solution to solving healthcare.
Let’s also remember that health insurance is not health care. There [are] a number of ways people are able to take care of their medical and health issues without insurance.
Q: If Congress did away with the Affordable Care Act, what health reform plan would Mr. Trump propose in its place?
A: Mr. Trump will be proposing a health plan that will return authority to the states and operate under free market principles. Mr. Trump’s plan will provide choice to the buyer, provide individual tax relief for health insurance and keep plans portable and affordable. The plan will break the health insurance company monopolies and allow individuals to buy across state lines.
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http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2015/0...e0b9f45d5e