Will Trump Extend Healthcare Subsidies?

A Politico (Lean Left bias) report on Monday alleged that President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new health policy framework that will extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies for another two years. Since this report, Trump has made comments walking back from the claims. 

The Details: According to Politico, the White House plan will include new income caps to qualify and a minimum monthly premium payment. The president has not yet announced or confirmed these plans.

Trump's Statements: "Somebody said I want to extend it for two years. I don't want to extend it for two years. I'd rather not extend them at all," Trump said on Tuesday. He went on, "Some kind of an extension may be necessary to get something else done because the unaffordable care act has been a disaster. It's a disaster."

For Context: The ACA is also known as Obamacare. The upcoming loss of ACA subsidies was central to debates leading to the government shutdown from October 1 to November 12.

How the Media Covered It: ABC News (Lean Left) noted that a Kaiser Family Foundation (Center) poll taken before the government shutdown showed that 78% of Americans, including 59% of Republicans, want the ACA marketplace tax credit extended. New York Post (Lean Right) focused on Trump's response to the Politico report and claimed that, "Instead, Trump called for sending money meant for the Affordable Care Act premium tax credits directly to Americans so they can pick their own health plan." Reuters (Center) wrote that this issue "has forced Trump into a political balancing act" in which he is "trying to satisfy conservatives…while addressing voter concerns over rising insurance costs heading into a midterm election year."

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