LEXINGTON COMMUNITY EDUCATION - Health Care in the Trump Administration

“Will repeal, replace & save healthcare for ALL Americans,” Trump vowed in his many Tweets and speeches. He promised "great health care at a fraction of the cost". Now that the Republican effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act has failed, what can we expect in the way of reforms? In order to understand how that political process is likely to play out, we need to look at the evolution of health insurance in the U.S. Why don’t we have universal health insurance? Why are there so many different plans? Why do “pre-existing conditions” exist in no other health system but ours? Why was and is Obamacare so controversial? Why are our health care costs the highest in the world, but our health care outcomes nowhere near the top? After explaining these puzzles, this lecture will explore how the Trump Administration might still be able to use incremental reforms to undo the great expansion of health insurance brought about by the ACA. The talk will conclude with audience discussion of the future of America's health care system.

Deborah Stone is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. A specialist in health and social policy, she is the author of numerous articles and four books. Stone has studied health systems in Europe and Asia, and has been a consultant to the U.S. Social Security Administration and the Institute of Medicine. She has written political and social commentary for The American Prospect, Nation, New Republic, Boston Review, salon.com, and nature articles for many magazines.

The event will be held on Tuesday, September 12th at 7:00pm at the Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Square, Lexington. The cost is $10.00.

Pre-registration strongly recommended. To register, using a VISA or MasterCard, please contact Lexington Community Education at 781 862 8043.