Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) urged President Donald Trump to address the issue of rising medical debt.
During a Senate floor speech on Wednesday, Cassidy revealed that 60% of personal bankruptcies are due to medical bills. He noted that monthly costs are increasing for the average American, partly due to the expiration of ObamaCare subsidies.
Cassidy, who is also a medical doctor, invited Trump to discuss the matter at the White House. “We can only get something done if the executive branch engages,” he said.
Despite losing the GOP Senate primary election three weeks ago, Cassidy expressed his willingness to collaborate with anyone genuinely interested in helping Americans manage their medical expenses.
“Now, Mr. President, I’m speaking to you just for a second, I’m speaking to President Trump, Mr. President, Mr. President Trump, get engaged,” the senator said it with increasing intensity in his voice.
“We may have differences”, Cassidy said of the president, but added that he shared common ground with anyone focused on helping Americans struggling with debt, noting that high interest rates, around 22% on credit cards, are adding to financial pressure.
“Let’s do it together, Mr. President,” Cassidy said.
Sanders, Cassidy Spotlight Healthcare Costs
Cassidy’s plea comes after his loss in the GOP Senate primary election in May. Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Trump ally state treasurer John Fleming advanced to a Republican Senate runoff in Louisiana after no candidate secured a majority. The Louisiana senator, who voted to convict Trump after the January 6 Capitol attack, was labeled a “disloyal disaster” by the President.
In April, Cassidy introduced the Money and Value for Patients (MVP) plan to expand TrumpRx and shift healthcare funding directly to patients instead of insurers, urging Trump to adopt it. Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized the U.S. healthcare system, arguing that high costs and widespread lack of coverage highlight the need for universal healthcare reform.
Trump Expands Drug Pricing, Fertility Push
Earlier in May, the Trump administration proposed a new rule to make fertility treatments more accessible through employer-sponsored benefits. This move aligns with Cassidy’s MVP agenda, which aims to direct funds to patients rather than insurance companies.
Moreover, Trump announced a significant expansion of the TrumpRx prescription drug pricing platform, adding more than 600 generic medications launched earlier this year, with 43 branded prescription drugs.
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban, who runs Cost Plus Drugs, joined Trump at an event and backed the expanded drug-pricing platform despite his competing business. He said Americans broadly support lowering prescription drug costs, adding optimism that they could “do something special” together.
Meanwhile, CDC data highlighted that the U.S. uninsured rate stayed largely unchanged at 8.3% in 2025, leaving about 28 million people without coverage. Around 23.5 million adults and 4 million children were uninsured, with working-age adults most affected. Meanwhile, private insurance coverage rose to 69.4% since 2021, while public coverage declined from its recent peak.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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