Trump supporters claim that the former billionaire is an advocate for the “working man.” A 2024 survey by Bankrate revealed that 45% of Americans believed Trump would be “best for the economy.” The economy and inflation were at the forefront of voters' minds, but healthcare is the hidden cost that will take a lot of American taxpayers' money. Millions of Americans are at risk of losing the subsidies that allow them to pay for their healthcare insurance.

The 2021 American Rescue Plan subsidies expire in 2025, and Trump has made it clear that he is extremely against them. President Biden passed the American Rescue Plan in the hopes that more people would have access to subsidies and give aid to those wanting to buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 20 million people got access to health insurance through the ACA in 2024.

During the campaign period, it was clear that there was a major difference between how the two candidates were presented. Donald Trump embraced the far right and stuck with his extremist views. Kamala Harris spread a message of freedom and positivity while also trying to appeal to moderate voters. Before becoming the vice president and gaining the Democratic nomination for president, Kamala Harris was known for supporting single-payer healthcare, also known as universal healthcare. Universal healthcare (UHC) requires the government to pay for healthcare costs rather than citizens paying out-of-pocket for their healthcare needs. The World Bank defines UHC as ensuring “that everyone, especially the most vulnerable, has access to the quality healthcare they need without suffering financial hardship.”

Universal healthcare is a trademark goal of the Democratic Socialist Association, an organization led by Bernie Sanders with past support from Harris. Democratic socialists tend to call for social welfare paid with taxes on the one percent, favoring New Deal-styled programs. Many other developed countries, such as Canada and Japan, embrace universal healthcare.

Considering Trump’s past as a billionaire hotel owner, it isn’t surprising that healthcare for the “vulnerable” isn’t on a list of priorities for his presidential term starting soon on January 20th. His healthcare plans involve nominating RFK Jr. as a top healthcare official, slashing benefits and costs in the hopes of lowering inflation, and cutting massive amounts of social spending. As an environmental lawyer with no formal experience in healthcare, Kennedy has been a long-time anti-vaccinator and enemy of the pharmaceutical industry. He has spread misinformation about vaccinations, going so far as to claim that “autism comes from vaccines.” If his nomination is confirmed, he will control a two trillion dollar budget and be responsible for administering Medicaid, Medicare, and the ACA.

It is too soon to make any drastic claims about Trump’s presidency because the President-Elect has a history of changing his mind on certain issues. Still, America will certainly not see universal health care any time soon. A Trump term will undoubtedly contribute to many changes in the American healthcare system. Everything from the ACA to Medicare is up in the air, with millions of Americans relying on the health insurance included in those programs. It comes down to a matter of competence on Trump’s part and whether he will be able to follow through with his plans.