Trump plans steep cuts to Obamacare outreach budget

WASHINGTON—The Trump administration plans to slash the Obamacare advertising and promotional budget for the next enrollment season, a move based in part on last year’s lavish-but-less-than-effective spending. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Thursday it will spend just $10 million in Affordable Care Act outreach during the next open-enrollment period, starting Nov. 1. Last year, the Obama administration spent $100 million during the same time frame. “The Trump administration is deliberately attempting to sabotage our healthcare system,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement. “When the number of people with health insurance declines and costs skyrocket, the American people will know who’s to blame.” Just over 12 million Americans registered for 2017 health plans during the last open-enrollment season. The Trump administration argues that Obamacare enrollment dropped last year while the Obama administration doubled its outreach spending. HHS officials claim $10 million is more than enough to get the word out. “Judging effectiveness by the amount of money spent and not the results achieved is irresponsible and unhelpful to the American people,” Caitlin Oakley, an HHS spokeswoman, told Bloomberg.