Cheap Insurance

Asked by the Times’ Maggie Haberman about the political difficulty of taking away a benefit that the American people have gotten used to—namely, Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion and generous tax credits—Trump gave a rambling answer describing a fantastical system where insurance costs just $12 per year and that money accrues in some sort of account over one’s lifetime:

[...]

So pre-existing conditions are a tough deal. Because you are basically saying from the moment the insurance, you’re 21 years old, you start working and you’re paying $12 a year for insurance, and by the time you’re 70, you get a nice plan. Here’s something where you walk up and say, “I want my insurance.” It’s a very tough deal, but it is something that we’re doing a good job of.”

Possibly confusing health insurance with life insurance, Trump seemed unaware that health care premiums can cost hundreds of dollars per month, even for a young, healthy individual.

  TPM

Or, possibly, he has his head up his ass and he has no idea what people are paying for insurance. I think we could easily test this hypothesis by asking him what HE pays for insurance. No, I don't mean what he paid for insurance before becoming president - but he wouldn't know that either.

“These guys couldn’t believe it, how much I know about it. I know a lot about health care,” he told the reporters.

And the tragedy is they didn't ask him to tell them.

In an interview with Cassidy, MSNBC’s Hallie Jackson asked [Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)] about Trump’s bizarre comment to the New York Times — perhaps meant to illustrate that health care costs rise with age, or maybe to explain a savings account for lifelong health spending — that when “you’re 21 years old, you start working and you’re paying $12 a year for insurance, and by the time you’re 70, you get a nice plan.”

[...]

“I don’t think it’s important for him to understand the policy intricacies of this bill,” Cassidy replied.

  TPM

Frankly, I think he should. If he's going to go around pushing people to vote for it. But, let's put that aside; shouldn't he at least know how insuance works and have some ballpark idea of what it costs?

“What’s important for him is to understand the principle — his principle is that there should be a replace associated with repeal."

Indeed. That's all he knows - he wants to repeal something Obama worked to get done.

"And during the campaign he consistently said he wanted to continue coverage for those who had, cover preexisting conditions, eliminate mandates and lower premiums, those are very good principles by which to go.”

And does he even know if those things are in the bill? You don't have to answer that.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.