President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday requiring hospitals and insurance companies to reveal real medical costs to patients before they receive care as detailed here. The move aims to eliminate hidden fees, negotiated rates and unexpected billing that have frustrated Americans for years.
Under the order, the Departments of Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services have 90 days to implement enforcement measures per this report, ensuring hospitals and insurers comply with transparency requirements. This builds on a 2019 directive that faced industry pushback and limited enforcement under the Biden administration.
"Before you complain about Trump cutting Medicare, libs, think long and hard about how much is going into the millionaires and billionaires that you say you hate so much."@CarlHigbie explains why healthcare price transparency is needed. pic.twitter.com/wpVWiHDOEV
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) February 25, 2025
Public polling has consistently shown strong demand for price transparency in healthcare. A recent study found that 92% of Americans support hospitals and insurers being legally required to disclose actual costs before treatment. Another survey found that nearly all adults believe providers should post prices online in a way that allows for easy comparison.
Thank you, President Trump, for delivering on your promise to empower patients and lower costs through healthcare price transparency! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/a4cQQjsbdl
— PatientRightsAdvocate.org (@PtRightsAdvoc) February 26, 2025
Despite broad public approval, hospital groups and insurers have long fought against transparency regulations. They argue that revealing negotiated rates will disrupt market competition and interfere with private contracts. Trump, however, dismissed these concerns. “You’re not allowed to even talk about [costs] when you’re going to a hospital or see a doctor,” he said while signing the order. “And this allows you to go out and talk about it.”
PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS EO TO MAKE HEALTHCARE PRICES TRANSPARENT @rickdelgadorad reports. “There’s always an issue with prices. Hopefully, this will be one of the solutions as RFK, Jr. begins to take hold of HHS.@slickricksports @damonroberts @lfs6b pic.twitter.com/IAik3rkZHO
— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) February 26, 2025
Economic projections show that full price transparency could bring major financial relief to patients and businesses. One analysis found that price comparison shopping could save $80 billion annually, while employers could lower healthcare costs by 27% by making more informed choices.
Trump signs bombshell order set to turn US healthcare on its head
The ruling directs regulators to force healthcare providers and insurers to publicly disclose their prices, the idea being to make it easier for consumers to shop around for better deals.https://t.co/23t62TnaQI pic.twitter.com/9TWzsozMrZ
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) February 26, 2025
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy called the order a win for patients, stating that the administration is delivering on its commitment to transparency in healthcare. Trump’s move puts insurers and hospitals on notice, signaling that his administration will not allow price secrecy to continue.
