Trump calls Obamacare 'virtually unaffordable' as ACA subsidy expiration deadline nears

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Thursday, December 18, criticized the Affordable Care Act as millions of Americans faced the possible expiration of enhanced Obamacare subsidies, suggesting that he would prefer a system that sends federal health care dollars directly to individuals rather than insurance companies.

His comments came during an interaction with reporters after signing an executive order reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug at the Oval Office of the White House.

Pressed by reporters on whether he would intervene as subsidies neared their deadline, potentially driving premiums sharply higher for more than 20 million people, Trump argued that rising costs were inevitable under the current system.

“They will skyrocket because it was never any good,” Trump said, describing the law as “virtually unaffordable” for many Americans. He maintained that the ACA had failed to deliver affordable coverage while enriching insurers.

Trump said the money should 'go directly to the people'

Trump claimed insurance companies had benefited enormously from federal subsidies, citing soaring stock prices as evidence that taxpayer dollars are flowing to corporations rather than consumers.

“I’d like to see the money go to people instead of going to the insurance companies by the hundreds of billions of dollars,” he said, adding that insurers’ stocks had risen “through the roof” over a relatively short period of time.

Instead, Trump said he wants federal funds redirected straight to individuals, allowing them to purchase health care on their own.

“Let the money go directly to the people and let them buy their own health care,” he said, arguing that Americans would secure “much better health care” outside the framework of the Affordable Care Act.

Enrollment data cited amid calls for Congressional action

As reporters pressed Trump on the urgency of the looming subsidy expiration, Dr Mehmet Oz pointed to new enrollment data suggesting that premium increases have so far been more modest than predicted.

According to the data, federal exchange premiums were down roughly 2.7 to 2.8 percent compared with last year, far below earlier projections of steep hikes.

He said that the numbers indicated that Americans continued to sign up for ACA plans, which were already subsidized by more than 80 percent on average.

“It’s a good deal even if you don’t get the extra 15 or 20 percent,” the official said, calling the plans a cost-effective option for coverage.

Trump presses Democrats and blames insurers’ influence

When asked directly whether he wanted Congress to extend the ACA subsidies, Trump signaled reluctance, saying he would prefer to move quickly toward a broader overhaul rather than a temporary extension.

“I don’t know why we have to extend,” he said, suggesting changes could be made rapidly with bipartisan cooperation.

He accused Democrats of being beholden to the insurance industry, claiming insurers wield outsized influence over the party.

“The insurance companies own the Democrat Party,” Trump said, arguing that Democrats must decide whether to side with insurers or “do the right thing.”