Trump Unveils New Healthcare Plan Amid Congressional Uncertainty

Today, Thursday, January 15, was the last day to enroll in Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance plans, as the open enrollment window ended for most people. However, lawmakers have not yet decided how to address the expiring healthcare credits.

So far, enrollment is falling short of last year’s numbers, AP’s Ali Swenson reported, with about 22.8 million Americans signed up, compared with 24 million last year. “ Several enrollees told The Associated Press they have either delayed signing up for coverage or signed up with a plan to cancel as they anxiously watch what’s happening on Capitol Hill.

At the end of 2025, Congress adjourned without reaching a healthcare deal, resulting in the expiration of ACA subsidies on December 31. Last week, the bill passed 230-196, with 17 Republicans supporting it. However, passage of the bill in the Senate remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced a broad outline of a healthcare plan that the White House claims will lower drug prices and insurance premiums, CNBC reported. In a video, the President said “The Great Healthcare Plan” would put people first rather than corporations. Trump explained that people would receive government funds to purchase their own healthcare.

In his video announcement, Trump stated that lower drug prices will be implemented on the platform when it launches this month. He claimed these prices could decrease by as much as 500 percent, even though that would mean they would fall well below $0, CNBC reporters noted.

According to a White House fact sheet, the new plan requires health insurance companies to publish rate and coverage comparisons clearly on their websites—avoiding industry jargon—so consumers can make better insurance choices. Additionally, the plan requires any healthcare provider or insurer that publicly and prominently accepts Medicare or Medicaid to post their pricing and fees to avoid surprise medical bills.

NBC News’ Berkeley Lovelace Jr. reported that an administration official said the plan does not “close the door” on ongoing negotiations to extend the enhanced tax credits. The Senate is set on leave for a week-long recess, Lovelace Jr. wrote, further diminishing any chance of a deal. Furthermore, Lovelace Jr. noted, “The administration urged Congress to pass legislation ‘without delay,’ saying it would deliver relief from what it called the ‘Unaffordable Care Act’ — a quip often used by Trump to criticize the program’s high costs.”