President Joe Biden Rolls Back Trump Restrictions On Abortion, Obamacare

President Joe Biden will roll back anti-abortion measures put in place by the Trump administration and shore up Obamacare.

Biden will sign two executive orders Thursday directing federal agencies to reverse policies put in place by the Trump administration that weakened the insurance marketplace and made it harder for Americans to get Medicaid.

The first order will instruct the Department of Health and Human Services to open a special enrollment period of three months (Feb. 15 to May 15) giving Americans who lost their health insurance when they lost their job the chance to sign up for coverage. The orders also require all federal agencies to review policies that would undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

In the run-up to the Presidential Election last fall, Biden repeatedly said he would strengthen ACA protections and expand who can sign up as opposed to Medicare for All.

The second order will “protect and expand access to comprehensive reproductive health care” by rescinding the New Mexico City policy that barred international non-governmental groups that abortion counseling or referrals from receiving U.S. funding.

Former President Donald Trump spent his entire term trying to get rid of the ACA, but despite claiming to be a few weeks from unveiling his healthcare plan throughout his term, never released one. When he couldn’t kill the act, thanks to John McCain, Trump signed a litany of executive orders to weaken the bill, which is what allows Biden to reverse his actions with no Congressional approval or interference.

Biden is also requesting federal agencies to reconsider work requirement rules to signing up for the ACA and to review policies undermining protections for people with pre-existing conditions including the coronavirus. The former vice president’s actions also force federal agencies to review a Trump-era rule limiting the use of Title X federal funds meant for family planning and reproductive health services for low-income patients.