According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, 74 percent of Americans said that health care was “very important” to their vote. So where do the presidential candidates stand on health care issues? Here is a candidate comparison on several key health care policies:
Clinton: Supports the Affordable Care Act. Wants to add a “public option” that would compete against private insurers.
Trump: Wants to repeal Affordable Care At in its entirety. Will repeal it.
Clinton: Wants to require insurers and employers to provide up to three sick visits to a doctor per year without needing to meet any deductible.
Trump: No similar provision.
Clinton: Supports a refundable tax credit up to $5,000 per family for excessive out-of-pocket health costs. Wants taxes from the wealthy and rebates from drug companies to pay for this.
Trump: Wants individuals to be able to “fully deduct” their health insurance premiums on their tax returns.
Clinton: Allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs.
Trump: Allow Medicare to negotiate drug costs.
Clinton: Allow importation of drugs from Canada.
Trump: Allow importation of drugs from Canada.
Clinton: Invest $2 billion per year on Alzheimer’s research, make a cure possible by 2025.
Trump: Alzheimer’s “is a total top priority for me. That’s something we should be working on.”
Clinton: “Medicare for More” proposal would expand Medicare coverage to people 55 and over.
Trump: No similar plan to expand Medicare
Clinton: Encourage states to adopt Medicaid expansion and keep current financing.
Trump: Wants to change Medicaid from an individual entitlement into a capped block grant to states, which would limit access to Medicaid.
Clinton: Place a $250 limit on out of pocket prescription drug costs.
Trump: No similar position.
Clinton: Supports a woman’s right to make personal health decisions for contraception and safe, legal abortions. Supports Planned Parenthood.
Trump: Opposes abortion, except to save the life of the woman, or in case of rape or incest. Wants to defund Planned Parenthood.
Trump has said he opposes “Obamacare,” yet says “I like the (individual) mandate. … I don’t want people dying in the streets.” Trump’s chief policy adviser told the Wall Street Journal that once Trump becomes President, he will “start taking a hard look” at Social Security and Medicare.
Clinton said in a radio interview: “We need to make sure what we already do, like Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, to provide a level of security and support for people, continues to work really well.”
Despite a few areas of agreement, these candidates have a very different view of health care reform. One candidate wants to expand the reach of Medicare and Medicaid, one wants to reduce them both. At stake is what kind of health care benefits our families will get from the next occupant of the Oval Office.
If elders want a strong Medicare and Medicaid program, they need to cast a vote that reflects that goal.
Al Norman is an elder rights activist who lives in Greenfield.