The imposition of tariffs on healthcare supplies, devices, equipment, and drugs could further increase runaway costs in the healthcare system and have a major impact on access and quality.
About The Podcast:
Millions of Americans feel confused and frustrated in their search for quality healthcare coverage.
Between out-of-control costs, countless inefficiencies, a lack of affordable universal access, and little focus on wellness and prevention, the system is clearly in dire need of change.
Hosted by healthcare policy and technology expert Marc S. Ryan, the Healthcare Labyrinth Podcast offers accessible, incisive deep dives on the most pressing issues and events in American healthcare.
Marc seeks to help Americans become wiser consumers and navigate the healthcare maze with more confidence and certainty through The Healthcare Labyrinth website and his book of the same name.
Marc is an unconventional Republican who believes that affordable universal access is a wise and prudent investment. He recommends common-sense solutions to reform American healthcare.
Tune in every week as Marc examines the latest developments in the space, offering analysis, insights, and predictions on the changing state of healthcare in America.
About The Episode:
On this episode, Marc discusses the imposition of tariffs on healthcare supplies, devices, equipment, and drugs. The tariffs could further increase runaway costs in the healthcare system and have a major impact on access and quality.
Key Takeaways:
America is heavily reliant on imports for healthcare.
The main components imported include medical equipment, supplies, devices, finished pharmaceuticals, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used to manufacture pharmaceuticals.
The U.S. imported over $300 billion of medical devices and pharmaceutical products in 2024.
China, Mexico, Canada, and India all are important in terms of supporting U.S. healthcare’s supplies, devices, and drugs.
The EU is a major exporter to the U.S. of brand medications.
So far, the tariffs from the Trump administration clearly impact medical supplies, devices, and some active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Trump plans on tariffs for all drugs and ingredients. Generic prices and supplies could be heavily impacted.
Hospitals could see increases over time of as much as 15%. Drug costs nationwide could increase by as much as 15% as well.
Even if the current annual trends relax a bit, we could see healthcare percentage increases well into the double digits in 2026 or 2027 due to tariffs.
We could see shortages and access issues.
Onshoring is commendable but complicated and long term.
Trump’s tariffs will be a disaster for the healthcare system and coverage. He should exclude healthcare imports and work to create domestic production in other ways.
Connect with Marc
Resources
The Healthcare Labyrinth: A Guide to Navigating Health Plans and Fixing American Health Insurance
