A Generational Chance to Pursue a New Direction for America

Time to dump Obamacare for a plan that really does work. The WSJ lays out the case.

Donald Trump announced this week that he had chosen Rep. Tom Price (R., Ga.), a leader in the efforts to replace Obamacare, to be his secretary of Health and Human Services. This is a consequential choice. Mr. Trump’s election, and the political realignment it represents, offers a generational opportunity to pursue a new direction for American health care. Mr. Price will now be leading the charge.

The new system should be fully consumer driven, empowering individuals to be the surveyors and purchasers of their care. Past reforms in this direction became stilted and ultimately incomplete, but the current moment offers a chance to truly rebuild from the ground up. If Messrs. Trump and Price want to make the most of this short window, they should keep four central reforms in mind.

Provide a path to catastrophic health insurance for all Americans.

Accommodate people with pre-existing health conditions.

Allow broad access to health-savings accounts.

Deregulate the market for medical services.

Deregulate the market for medical services.