Five ways for Republicans to win on health care affordability

OPINION:

For most of the past 40 years, pollsters have asked voters: Which party do you trust more on health care? The answer has been pretty much the same over this whole period. Voters trust the Democrats more, and sometimes by a 2-1 margin.

Republicans shouldn’t be afraid of the issue. Democrats have pretty much unilaterally designed the medical care system we have now. They own it. The outcome isn’t happy. We are getting spiraling costs with less access and, in many cases, worse health outcomes.

The Republican promise to voters is to provide better health care at half the cost.

Here are five easy pieces to this saner, higher-quality health care system.

First, follow President Trump’s lead, outlined in his State of the Union: “I want to stop all payments to big insurance companies and give that money to the people.” That’s you and me.

This patient-power approach is a direct assault on Washington’s long-standing allegiance to hospital oligopolies, insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers. Medical care dollars should follow the patients, which means various options for how that money is spent to improve health.

One of those options should be expanding health savings accounts, which incentivize patients to shop around for the best price on health services. Another option should be low-premium catastrophic coverage plans that cover major but not routine costs. This is supported by 78% of voters.

Second, start every discussion on health care by reminding Americans of an undeniable truism: Obamacare has been a catastrophic mistake that has run up costs two to three times higher than expected. The Affordable Care Act has made health care much LESS affordable.

A recent poll we sponsored at Unleash Prosperity Now confirms this. Some two-thirds of voters rank the rising cost of health insurance as their single greatest health care concern.

Third, strike back at the health care industrial complex, which has made $1.5 trillion in profits since 2010. Obamacare made insurance companies and hospital conglomerates rich. One new study finds that hospital earnings have doubled since 2015 (not adjusted for inflation). The profits declined in 2025, but $400 billion in one year is a nice payday.

These enormous payouts from today’s health care system are prima-facie evidence that it lacks the necessary accountability, competition and transparency.

The giant health care corporations and their subsidiaries have taken over nearly every aspect of patient care in America, including insurance, pharmacies, physician and emergency care practices, surgical centers and home health services. Why is that? Because liberal politicians, at the behest of big insurers, designed it that way.

When asked who they believe bears the greatest responsibility for rising health care costs, voters point to insurers and providers.

Fourth, reject price controls. Price controls on prescription drugs will delay new drug development and cause Americans more pain and suffering by keeping promising drugs off the market.

Fifth, require full price transparency for all medical services and procedures. No surprise billing from hospitals and pharmacies for expensive pills and procedures, with patients never informed of the price tag. In some towns, an MRI can cost $2,000 at some clinics and $5,000 down the street.

Republicans should endorse a “No price, no pay” policy: If patients attest they never saw the bill, then they don’t have to pay.

Full health care price transparency is popular and supported by 9 of 10 voters.

This is a model of patient choice and market flexibility in making critically important health care decisions that could turn the medical establishment on its head.

Republicans should ask voters, “Whom do you trust to make the best health care decisions for you and your family: you or the politicians who gave us the Obamacare scam?”

• Stephen Moore is the co-founder of Unleash Prosperity Now and co-leader of the Most Favored Patient initiative. He also serves as a senior fellow with the America First Policy Institute.