Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
20 Million Would Lose Coverage Under Trump's Health Plan, Analysis Finds
The Associated Press: Study Finds 20M Would Lose Health Coverage Under Trump Plan
A new study that examines some major health care proposals from the presidential candidates finds that Donald Trump would cause about 20 million to lose coverage while Hillary Clinton would provide coverage for an additional 9 million people. The 2016 presidential campaign has brought voters to a crossroads on health care yet again. The U.S. uninsured rate stands at a historically low 8.6 percent, mainly because of President Barack Obama's health care law, which expanded government and private coverage. Yet it's uncertain if the nation's newest social program will survive the election. (Alonso-Zaldivar, 9/23)
Bloomberg: The Numbers Behind Trump Versus Clinton Health-Reform Proposals
If Democrats keep the White House come November, millions of Americans could gain health-care coverage. If Republicans take it back, millions could become uninsured. A new study ran the numbers under the proposals of both U.S. presidential candidates. Donald Trump’s pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature health-care law, would result in 19.7 million more people without insurance and widen the federal deficit by $33.1 billion in 2018, according to an analysis conducted by research group Rand Corp. and funded by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit foundation. The Republican nominee’s proposed tax credits would largely benefit higher-income people, the study also found. (Tracer and Kapur, 9/23)
Dallas Morning News: Clinton Vs. Trump: Health Care Policy Could Radically Change With Election
In terms of health care, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have their eyes set on the high cost of prescription drugs, the Affordable Care Act and the health of U.S. veterans. The soaring cost of pharmaceuticals has drawn national attention as a major threat to the nation’s economy. The latter two issues are also of particular interest to Texas, a state that has not expanded Medicaid and is home to the second-highest population of the nation’s veterans. (Rice, 9/22)
Meanwhile, in Arizona the health law's reverberations are felt on the campaign trail —
Kaiser Health News: In Arizona, Health Law’s Gains And Losses Play In Presidential Race
Just weeks before the presidential election, Josephine has spent nearly every morning worrying as she drives to her breast cancer treatments, waits for her doctor and comes back home. At 61, Josephine, who asked that her last name not be used because she has been under the protection of a restraining order, has much riding on this election. Once uninsured after being laid off from her job, she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and has been able to get subsidized health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. The pro-Hillary Clinton signs on her parched lawn show which candidate she trusts to keep her covered. (Varney, 9/23)
