This week, President Donald J. Trump called on lawmakers to pass what the Administration is calling the Great Healthcare Plan, a sweeping proposal aimed at lowering prescription drug prices, reducing insurance premiums, holding insurers accountable, and expanding price transparency across the healthcare system.
Here’s what’s in the plan—and why it’s being pitched as a win for working families.
1) Lower Drug Prices by Taking on the “Global Price Gap”
One of the plan’s biggest priorities is prescription drug costs—especially when Americans are often charged more than patients overseas.
The White House says the Great Healthcare Plan would:
- Codify “Most-Favored-Nation” drug pricing, so Americans can pay prices closer to what other developed countries pay.
- Build on past actions from Trump’s first term, including changes that reduced costs for certain essential drugs like insulin.
- Keep already-negotiated voluntary deals in place, including agreements made with HHS and CMS.
The plan also pushes to expand access to verified safe over-the-counter medications, which supporters argue could:
- Reduce the need for costly doctor visits
- Increase consumer choice
- Boost competition and price transparency
2) Cut Insurance Premiums by Sending Help to People—not Big Insurance
On the insurance side, the White House message is clear: too much taxpayer money goes to the wrong place.
The Great Healthcare Plan would:
- Stop “extra” subsidy payments to major insurance companies
- Send that money directly to eligible Americans, allowing families to choose coverage that fits their needs
The plan also includes funding a cost-sharing reduction program, which the Administration says would:
- Save taxpayers at least $36 billion
- Lower premiums on the most common Obamacare plans by more than 10%, based on estimates cited from the Congressional Budget Office
And it takes direct aim at the middlemen:
- The plan would end PBM kickbacks that it says quietly drive up insurance costs behind the scenes.
3) Hold Big Insurance Companies Accountable—with “Plain English” Rules
Anyone who has ever tried reading an insurance plan knows how confusing it can be—and the White House says that’s not an accident.
The plan would create a new “Plain English” insurance standard, requiring insurers to post clear, consumer-friendly information upfront, including:
- Side-by-side rate and coverage comparisons
- The share of revenue that goes to:
- Actual patient claims
- Overhead and profits
- How often insurers deny claims
- Average wait times for routine care
The goal: fewer surprise denials, fewer hidden games, and more power for patients.
4) Expand Price Transparency Across the System
The plan doubles down on the push for transparency—especially for providers and insurers who take federal dollars.
Under the Great Healthcare Plan:
- Any provider or insurer accepting Medicare or Medicaid would be required to prominently post pricing and fees
- Insurers would face stronger pressure to comply with price transparency rules
The White House also argues the previous administration failed to properly enforce existing transparency requirements—and says this proposal is designed to restore accountability.
The White House’s Bottom Line
President Trump is pitching this as a major follow-through on a core promise: lower healthcare costs for everyday Americans.
