Trump hosted former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at the White House today for some reason and Trump took the opportunity to say that he will sign an executive order concerning health care because Kissinger's premiums have skyrocketed.
“Now, we’re going to have to do something with Obamacare because it’s failing. Henry Kissinger does not want to pay 116 percent increase in his premiums, but that’s what’s happening,” Trump said, after hinting at what the “something” he will sign “probably this week” will do.
It will “go a long way, to take care of many of the people that have been so badly hurt on health care,” Trump said.
Now, Henry Kissinger is 94-years-old so, by my calculations, he became eligible for Medicare in the year 1988.
But what of this executive order Trump plans to sign? What's that about?
We won't know the exact language of it until he actually signs it, but if the rumors are true it won't help many if any people. It could actually make things worse.
Various reports say Trump's order will allow trade associations to offer insurance plans that don't include the essential health benefits of Obamacare. This will allow these groups to offer cheaper plans, but the plans won't cover anything. The existence of these cheaper plans, however, could drive up premiums for everyone else.
Trump's order will also reportedly allow insurers to sell plans across state lines, but that is a nothingburger. Plans aren't sold that way right now because it would be out of network coverage and Trump's order isn't going to change that unless the entire health care industry is reorganized to accommodate it.