Trump Negotiating Healthcare

Summary

On January 22, 2026, President Trump stated that his administration is actively negotiating healthcare, adding that he does not want insurance companies to profit excessively and is considering another reconciliation bill.Zhitong This follows earlier announcements about upcoming meetings with as many as 14 health insurance companies to discuss lowering costs.Sina Finance This focus on healthcare pricing is part of a broader theme for the 2026 midterm elections, which Trump has framed as being about ‘pricing’ and reducing costs for Americans.JIN10 At a rural healthcare event on January 18, he touted his efforts as the ‘most significant change’ in U.S. healthcare history.

Impact Analysis

This isn’t just noise; it’s the 2026 mid-term election playbook starting to run. Trump is framing the election around ‘pricing,’ and healthcare is square in the crosshairs.JIN10 He’s explicitly targeting health insurers, stating he’ll meet with them and that he doesn’t want them ‘to take the money.’ This is classic Trump: create a populist narrative, apply public pressure on an unpopular industry, and generate headlines. The mention of a ‘reconciliation bill’ adds a legislative threat to the executive pressure.

For us, the signal is clear: a major sentiment overhang is building for the managed care sector. The uncertainty around potential price controls, whether real or threatened, will cap multiples. It doesn’t matter if a major bill can pass; the constant headline risk and threat of executive action will force the market to price in margin pressure. The trade here is to be underweight or short managed care (UNH, ELV, etc.) until this political storm passes. This is a targeted attack, and they are the primary target.