Media Contact:
Kelly Thibert, D.O., M.P.H, AMSA National President
American Medical Student Association
Phone: (703) 665-4786
Email: [email protected]
Sterling, VA – November 9, 2016: The results of the U.S. presidential election have taken many by surprise. Donald Trump, a real estate developer and reality television personality, will now serve as president for the next four years.
With Donald Trump set to assume office in January, he will inherit the responsibility of addressing health care at a critical moment—just as the fourth Open Enrollment season (OE4) under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) comes to a close. Throughout President Obama’s tenure, the ACA has transformed health care for millions of Americans, providing more than 20 million people with health insurance. While this has been a major step forward, challenges remain. Many millennials forgo purchasing insurance through the marketplace due to high costs, while others fall into the coverage gap and are unable to qualify. Even with increased access to insurance, barriers to actual health care persist, as coverage alone does not always translate to care. However, in a system where health insurance dictates access, expanding coverage is still a significant achievement.
Throughout his campaign, Trump pledged to repeal the ACA, reduce barriers to selling insurance across state lines, implement a full tax deduction for individual insurance premiums, make Health Savings Accounts inheritable, require price transparency, block-grant Medicaid to states, and ease regulatory restrictions on foreign drug providers. He also suggested that stricter immigration enforcement could lower health care costs—raising the question of whether he considers health care a human right. AMSA firmly believes that it is.
Trump’s positive statements on health care have been limited. He has acknowledged that requiring a prescription for birth control can be a barrier for some women and suggested it should be available over the counter. He also spoke favorably about single-payer health care—but that was in 2000, and the topic was absent from his campaign rhetoric this election season.
The American Medical Student Association is committed to quality, affordable health care for all. When our future patients face barriers to care, we believe it is our duty to speak out. While we respect the outcome of the election, we will not remain silent. Discussions must continue, and progress must be made in health care policy. Physicians have a responsibility to promote community health and should be able to fulfill their ethical obligations to patients without political interference. AMSA will continue to advocate for our future patients by championing their right to health care and defending their autonomy.
About AMSA: The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. AMSA is a student-governed national organization dedicated to representing the concerns of future physicians. Its members include medical students, premedical students, interns, residents, and practicing physicians. Founded in 1950, AMSA remains committed to improving medical training and advancing the nation’s health through education, advocacy, and local and regional chapter engagement.
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