GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump clearly belongs in the camp of those who believe not every American should have access to affordable health insurance.

Having unveiled his alternative to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Trump must now sit back and watch while the experts analyze it. An early read by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a bipartisan nonprofit policy organization, says Trump’s plan would both strip 21 million currently insured folks of their health coverage, and add to the deficit.

The group said its analysis indicates Trump’s strategy would “significantly reduce coverage” by creating a system in which coverage became available for 1.1 million Americans, but would not be there for the 21 million who would be directly affected by his repeal of the PPACA.

Details of the analysis include:

The plan would cost $270 billion over 10 years, given the current pace of economic growth;
The cost rises to $500 billion with “conventional scoring;”
The repeal of Obamacare and all that it has spawned would carve $1.1 trillion out of the federal budget, but would cost $1.5 trillion to replace programs that would have to be reinstated.

But, the committee said, the plan would also save Americans money. Among the savings:

His idea to block grant Medicaid could save billions, based on past experience with block grants;
Trump’s suggestion that the importation of prescription drugs be legalized would save the U.S. $20 billion;
His proposal to allow insurance to be sold across state lines would save $10 billion.

Bottom line, the study says that under Trump's health coverage scheme, the number of Americans without health insurance would nearly double. Something to think about, considering today could turn Trump from presidential hopeful to the de facto GOP nominee.

Instant Insights /

Trump health coverage plan would double the uninsured rate

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