People in These 15 Cities Would Get Slammed by Trumpcare Cost Increases
Vince McMahon prepares for a haircut — much like the American people if the American Health Care Act, also known as Trumpcare, is signed into law. | WWE
President Donald Trump was once on the receiving end of a Stone Cold Stunner. Now, it seems he’d like to deliver a stunner of his own to the American people, in the form of the American Health Care Act. The proposed law, which many have started calling Trumpcare, is the “repeal and replace” fix for Obamacare that Republicans have been pushing for seven years. The merits of the proposed law are dubious, but Trump has thrown his weight behind it nevertheless.
While some conservatives feel the law doesn’t go far enough in reversing the effects of the Affordable Care Act, others are worried it would do some very real damage to the American health care system. If any analyses are correct, it appears Trumpcare would do little (if anything) to curb costs and make coverage more expensive for the average American, especially Trump supporters, ironically.
The WalletHub report ranks 457 American cities that would experience the biggest impact if Trumpcare is signed into law. Cities across the country populate the report, but one thing is clear: Cities in red states — or swing states that voted for the Trump-Pence ticket in 2016 — would get burned.
“In order to gauge the AHCA’s impact on people who buy their own insurance, WalletHub’s analysts compared the differences in premium subsidies that the average households in 457 U.S. cities would receive under Obamacare and Trumpcare,” the report said.
Here are the 15 cities that would be affected the most by Trumpcare.
15. St. Joseph, Missouri
A structure in St. Joseph, Missouri | City of St. Joseph via Facebook
St. Joseph, Missouri, is located north of Kansas City along Interstate 29. It’s a small city in a fairly conservative area with a population of just more than 75,000. It’s also going to be hit extremely hard if the American Health Care Act comes to pass. Under Obamacare, the average subsidy in the area was $8,599. The new cap, under Trumpcare, would be $5,000. That’s a $3,599 difference.
14. Rockford, Illinois
A Tea Party supporter watches as buses from the Tea Party Express national tour arrive in Rockford. | Scott Olson/Getty Images
Another small city in a Midwestern state, Rockford is a city of 150,000 near the Illinois-Wisconsin border. It’s also a city that would be impacted in a big way by the passage of the American Health Care Act. According to WalletHub, average Obamacare tax subsidies for Rockford residents are $8,662. Under Trumpcare, that number would come down to $5,000, leaving a gap of $3,662.
13. Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina | iStock.com/Bryan Pollard
This North Carolina city is actually tied with Rockford for 13th place, to be precise. So, like Rockford, average tax subsidies under Obamacare are $8,662. Trumpcare would drop that to $5,000, leaving Winston-Salem residents with a shortfall of $3,662. Winston-Salem is one of those cities that was in a swing state where a lot of voters might regret their decision if Trumpcare is signed into law.
12. Allentown, Pennsylvania
Trump supporters on the streets of Allentown, Pennsylvania | Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AFP/Getty Images
Like Winston-Salem, residents of Allentown, Pennsylvania, live in a swing state. Although it had been a long time since Pennsylvania went to a Republican presidential candidate, Trump’s populist appeal won over the state’s voters. But in places like Allentown, health care changes could end up hurting more than helping. Under Trumpcare, average subsidy losses would amount to $3,714.
11. Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina | iStock.com/Sean Pavone
If there’s a clear takeaway from WalletHub’s analysis, it’s that people in North Carolina are going to get hit very hard if the American Health Care Act is signed into law. Greensboro is one of several North Carolina cities among the top 15. Under Obamacare, the city’s average tax subsidy is $8,819. That would change to $5,000 under the American Health Care Act, leaving a gap of $3,819.
10. Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville sky | City of Asheville via Facebook
We’re not finished with you yet, North Carolina. One of the “bluer” spots in the state is in and around Asheville, which would, unfortunately, feel the sting of a Trumpcare passage in a big way. Average tax subsidies under Obamacare for Asheville residents amount to $9,232. Under Trumpcare? You guessed it: $5,000. That’s a difference of $4,232.
9. Wichita Falls, Texas
The Wichita Falls skyline | City of Wichita Falls via Facebook
Beating out Asheville, albeit barely, is the Texas city of Wichita Falls. A city of 105,000 located northwest of Dallas, Wichita Falls voted for the Trump-Pence ticket by a wide margin. But some people might end up wishing they could take it back if the American Health Care Act becomes law. Average subsidies, under the proposed law, would leave Wichita Falls residents with a $4,434 drop in tax subsidies.
8. Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama | iStock.com
The ramifications of Trumpcare would be felt deep in the heart of Trump country, too. That’s evident, according to the WalletHub analysis, by looking at the average tax subsidy shortfall that residents of Birmingham, Alabama, would experience if it becomes law. Under Obamacare, average subsidies are currently $9,494. With Trumpcare, the $5,000 cap would leave a $4,494 shortfall.
7. Fayetteville, North Carolina
Supporters watch Donald Trump at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina. | Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Swinging back over to North Carolina, residents of the city of Fayetteville would be in worse shape than those in Winston-Salem or Asheville should the Republicans get their way. Located in the middle of the state, Fayetteville is a city of more than 200,000 in which the average tax subsidy under Obamacare is $9,687. Under the American Health Care Act, that would create a shortcoming of $4,687.
6. Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville’s city hall | City of Greenville via Facebook
Greenville is located not too far from Fayetteville, about 110 miles to the northeast. And the American Health Care Act would burn its residents. Under Obamacare, Greenville’s average tax subsidies tally up to $9,067. Under Trumpcare, average subsidies would only add up to $4,000 — leaving a sizable gap of more than $5,000.
5. Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee | iStock.com/Sean Pavone
If there’s one big takeaway from this list, it’s that most of the people who are going to be adversely affected by the passage of the American Health Care Act live in areas that heavily supported Trump. Tennessee is another example, and residents of Chattanooga would be impacted worse than in any other city in the state. Under Trumpcare, Chattanooga residents would experience a subsidy gap of $5,786.
4. Reading, Pennsylvania
A view of downtown Reading | Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Pennsylvania is another swing state (like North Carolina) where Trumpcare might burn voters. Reading is very close to Allentown, a city we’ve already featured. In Reading, however, tax subsidy losses under Trumpcare would be even more dramatic. Under Obamacare, average subsidies for Reading residents add up to more than $10,000. Trumpcare would slash it to $4,000, creating a gap of more than $6,000.
3. Syracuse, New York
Syracuse skyline | City of Syracuse via Facebook
Here’s a rarity on this list: a city in a “blue” state. Or, at least it’s a state that went “blue” during the 2016 election. The honor goes to Syracuse, New York, where average Obamacare subsidies add up to nearly $10,400. Trumpcare, as in many other states, would cut that down to $4,000. As a result, folks in Syracuse would end up losing subsidies of about $6,400.
2. Anchorage, Alaska
Moose near downtown Anchorage | iStock.com
We have to head out west — way out west — for the second-place recipient. It goes to Anchorage, Alaska, the state’s largest city. Anchorage has a population of more than 300,000. Among them, the average Obamacare subsidy is a whopping $12,748, which is due to many factors, including the fact that goods and services in Alaska tend to be more expensive (and scarce). Trumpcare would saw it down to $5,000, leaving a large gap of $7,748.
1. Yuma, Arizona
Traffic near Yuma, Arizona | David McNew/Getty Images
The American Health Care Act would hit residents of Yuma, Arizona, harder than any other. Yuma is a border town of more than 90,000, situated on the borders of Arizona, California, and Mexico. Obamacare tax subsidies, for the average Yuma resident, are $12,815. Trumpcare would shoot that down to — you guessed it — $5,000. The resulting difference is more than $7,800.