Trump executive order changes nothing on pre-existing coverage

Over two months after promising that he was on the verge of releasing a plan to replace the Obama health law, President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order which proclaimed support for something already accomplished by Obamacare, as the President endorsed requiring health insurance companies to cover people with pre-existing conditions.

“It has been and will continue to be the policy of the United States to give Americans seeking healthcare more choice, lower costs, and better care and to ensure that Americans with pre-existing conditions can obtain the insurance of their choice at affordable rates,” the order stated.

The White House document contained no real change in health policy, as it included a call for action on ending surprise medical bills.

“Since January 20, 2017, my Administration has been committed to the goal of bringing great healthcare to the American people and putting patients first,” the President stated.

Critics of the President scoffed at the executive order, making the case it was nothing but a campaign document with no actual policy involved, and that it read more like a campaign press release.

“President Trump’s executive order to protect people with pre-existing conditions is equivalent to clicking your heels together three times and hoping it will happen,” said Larry Leavitt of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“The only protections that exist come from the Affordable Care Act — the very law that the Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to strike down,” said Nicholas Bagley, a law professor at the University of Michigan.

“President Trump’s bogus executive order on pre-existing conditions isn’t worth the paper it’s signed on,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as Democrats again pointed out the President was trying to get rid of the Obama health law at the Supreme Court.

In a stop in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday, the President again lent his support to the GOP effort to get rid of the entire Obama health law.

“We are joining in a lawsuit to end this ill-conceived law. If we win, we will have a better and less expensive plan that will always protect people with pre-existing conditions,” the President said.

But there was still no evidence of a complete replacement plan, as Republicans have said for ten years they are ready to yank out the Obama health law, but have never rallied around one measure.