On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on healthcare for Americans, a hot-button issue in light of the upcoming Nov. 3 presidential election.
Trump signed the twin orders implementing his “America First Healthcare Plan,” and in describing part of the program said, “Under my plan 33 million Medicare beneficiaries will soon receive a card in the mail containing $200 that they can use to help pay for prescription drugs.” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters on Thursday that one of the executive orders is aimed at ensuring Americans with pre-existing conditions retain healthcare coverage. Azar also said Trump was directing him via the second executive order to work with Congress to pass legislation banning surprise healthcare bills by the beginning of next year, and explore executive action to address the goal if the legislative bid fails.
The president’s action, unveiled less than six weeks before Election Day on Nov. 3, also comes amid long-standing criticisms that he has failed to follow through on promises to propose an alternative to Obamacare even as he works to dismantle that program.
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