Comparing the candidates’ health care promises- how Americans’ medical care may change in 2016

In 3 months, on November 8, 2016, United States citizens will elect the 45^th President.

This graphic from USA.GOV reviews the process of electing the President.

I plan to vote and hope you will too if you are eligible. 

I don’t endorse a candidate on this blog because I want everyone who visits to feel welcome, and politics is not the focus of this blog. But I am watching the campaign closely; I listened to the major speeches at both of the major party conventions.

I am especially interested in the candidates’ views on health care. Health care was a major issue in the last election and proved to be momentous.

In his campaign, the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, promised health care reform and as President he delivered with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the first time Americans have had universal health care.This election’s  major party candidates also make promises about health care.

 

 

 The 2016 Presidential candidates

In this post, I review and summarize what each candidate proposes and plans according to information on their official websites. I’ll give you the links and encourage you to read them for yourself.

The Republican party convention occurred first, so I will start with its candidate.

Republican- Donald J. Trump, Chairman and President, The Trump Organization

 

 

 

“Healthcare Reform to Make America Great Again”

Mr. Trump believes the Affordable Care Act, which he refers to as Obamacare, is an “economic burden” to the country. He says it has caused

• Runaway costs,
• Websites that don’t work,
• Greater rationing of care
• Higher premiums
• Less competition
• Fewer choices

He recommends a

“series of reforms that follow free market principles and restore economic freedom and certainty” , which will

“broaden healthcare access, make healthcare more affordable and improve the quality of the care available to all Americans.”

As President, Mr. Trump will request Congress to

1. Completely repeat Obamacare, eliminate the individual mandate to buy health insurance.
2. Modify existing law that inhibits the sale of health insurance across state lines.
3. Allow individuals to fully deduct health insurance premium payments from their tax returns.
4. Allow individuals to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which should be tax free, allowed to accumulate, and become part of one’s estate at death.
5. Require price transparency from all healthcare providers.
6. Block-grant Medicaid to the states.
7. Remove barriers to entry into free markets for drug providers, allowing consumers access to imported, safe and dependable drugs from overseas.

Also under his health care plan, Mr. Trump includes

• Enforcing immigration laws
• Eliminating fraud and waste
• Energizing our economy
• Reform our mental health programs and institutions

Next, the  Democratic Party convened and nominated its candidate-

Democrat-Hillary Rodham Clinton, lawyer, former First Lady and Secretary of State

 

 

 

“Universal, quality, affordable health care for everyone in America”

1. Maintain and expand the Affordable Care Act
2. Bring down out-of-pocket costs for copays, deductibles and prescription drugs
3. Expand access to care for low income groups, immigrants and rural populations.
4. Defend access to reproductive health care.

As President, Mrs. Clinton will work with Congress to

Fight addiction and substance abuse with prevention, treatment and recovery programs and reforming the criminal justice system handling of offenders.

Set a goal to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s Disease by 2025. Help those affected and their families get the care they need.

Create an AIDS/HIV policy to increase research, expand treatment options, increase health care financial options for those affected, and eliminate discriminatory laws.

Develop an “autism initiative” to expand insurance coverage, increase funding for research, early identification and intervention, employment opportunities, and school safety.

Commit to fully implement the Americans with Disabilities Act, and increase support for persons with disabilities and their families.

Under the heading of health Mrs. Clinton includes her positions and proposals for

• Climate change
• Women’s rights and opportunity
• Support for veterans, the military and their families
• Paid family and medical leave

Follow this link to read about another woman, a physician, who is running for President-

From the O.R. to the Oval Office- 3 Docs Who Ran

exploring the HEART of healthcare policy

Please explore some of the other posts on this blog about the United States’ healthcare system . Here’s one to get you started .