Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump revealed his healthcare plan, which he expects to implement after Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also referred to as Obamacare.

Trumpcare

According to Trump, Obamacare requires congressional repeal but also a series of reforms to allow "free market principles and that will restore economic freedom" to Americans. Trump believes the U.S. healthcare system should include broader healthcare access, better affordability and improved quality of care.

"Obamacare has raised the economic uncertainty of every single person residing in this country. As it appears Obamacare is certain to collapse of its own weight, the damage done by the Democrats and President Obama, and abetted by the Supreme Court, will be difficult to repair unless the next President and a Republican congress lead the effort to bring much-needed free market reforms to the healthcare industry," Trump states in his healthcare plan, adding that reforms must begin in Congress on the first day of the Trump administration.

Trump's plan included seven items that members in the House of Representatives and Congress should address, including the complete ACA repeal, the elimination of the individual mandate, and no person should have the option of buying medical insurance. Next, Trump wants to modify current law to allow health insurance sales across state lines, which he believes would create greater competition and decrease insurance costs.

Trump's third proposal is to allow individuals to deduct health insurance premiums from their tax returns. The Trump campaign noted that businesses are currently allowed to do so, and the candidate wants to carry this provision over to individuals as well.

Fourth, Trump wants to allow people to use and contribute to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) tax-free and to pass these accounts to family members.

Fifth, healthcare providers, ranging from doctors to healthcare organizations, will be required to be more transparent with prices.

His penultimate proposal is Medicaid reforms on the state level, easing federal management of Medicaid access.

Finally, Trump wants to remove barriers preventing drug providers from entering the free market to offer reliable and cheaper products.

"The reforms outlined above will lower healthcare costs for all Americans. ... There are other reforms that might be considered if they serve to lower costs, remove uncertainty and provide financial security for all Americans. And we must also take actions in other policy areas to lower healthcare costs and burdens," the Trump campaign added.

Trump also acknowledged the role of immigration in the healthcare issue, saying that enforcing immigration laws would ease healthcare costs on both state and local governments. Trump's plan would not provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants, and he reiterated his platform to restrict the "unbridled" granting of visas.

"Enforcing immigration laws, eliminating fraud and waste and energizing our economy will relieve the economic pressures felt by every American. It is the moral responsibility of a nation's government to do what is best for the people and what is in the interest of securing the future of the nation," Trump added.

Latinos and Healthcare

Coincidentally, the day after Trump revealed his healthcare plan, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed approximately 20 million Americans have gained health insurance since the ACA's first provisions went into effect in 2010 and until early 2016.

The HHS noted the uninsured rate among Hispanics dropped by more than 25 percent, specifically from 41.8 percent to 30.5 percent. But the HHS has maintained its statistic that about four million Latino adults have gained medical coverage.

"Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 20 million Americans have gained health care coverage," said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a statement on Thursday. "We have seen progress in the last six years that the country has sought for generations. Americans with insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace or through their employers have benefited from better coverage and a reduction in the growth in health care costs."

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