Photo via https://pxhere.com/en/photo/605176
On Feb. 5, TrumpRx was launched and aims to give Americans discounts on 43 drugs fertility and weight-loss medication, according to its government website.
Political Science Associate Professor Couture Gagnon said the website isn’t effective for all Americans since 85% have drug coverage.
“So, it’s a really small portion of the population, or it’s for people who need drugs who are not covered by their insurance and that would be drugs for fertility treatment,” Gagnon said.
She added the purpose behind the website is political.
“The real goal is to sell to Americans, convince Americans that the Trump administration is doing everything it can to make life more affordable in the country,” Gagnon said.
She said Trump is reaching out for emotional appeals through TrumpRx.
“The Trump administration doesn’t have a high rate of social acceptability,” Gagnon said.
Gagnon said the people who have been responding to polls have been complaining about health care being expensive in the U.S.
“We haven’t seen any real action from the White House to lower the price of health care in this country,” she said. “For Americans, prices, health care, has become more expensive since the beginning of the second term of President Trump.”
Gagnon said although a small portion of the population will benefit from the website, that impact will be big for consumers.
Marine biology senior Megan Francis said she believes there will be long-term consequences from the government idea.
“It seems kind of interesting that people’s quality and cost of living has gone up so much and now they’re getting discounts through a government website instead of getting, like, necessarily government help,” Francis said.
Gagnon mentioned it is early to determine if the website will have a big impact in the U.S. or if it will benefit the Republican party.
“If it becomes bigger or the Trump administration is able to get more lower prices for drugs, from drug manufacturers, then it might play well for Republicans,” she said.
