Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Abortion, 'Medicare For All,' Affordability Are At The Top Of Voters' Minds On Election Day
Axios: What's On The Line For Health Care In The Midterms
Voters are about to decide whether public backlash against the health care industry translates into meaningful policy shifts. Health care has never been more expensive, and it's not going to get any cheaper without significant intervention. (Owens, 11/3)
The New York Times: How Will The Midterms Play Out? These Races May Provide Early Clues.
Election results in states where voting ends early could indicate how each party will fare in House and Senate races elsewhere in the country. (Yoon, 11/3)
More on reproductive healthcare —
Rewire News Group: These 10 Midterms Ballot Measures Will Affect Reproductive Justice
In the 2026 midterm election, nine states have ballot measures asking voters to consider abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, and non-discrimination initiatives. An estimated 29 million people will weigh whether to amend their state constitutions to protect or ban abortion, bar trans kids from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identities, or provide equal protection under the law. (Roy, 11/2)
Public News Service: Idaho's Abortion Ballot Measure Could Set Off New Round Of Legal Battles
Idaho's Proposition 1 could change the state's abortion laws but the legal fight may not end at the ballot box. (Hatch, 11/2)
The 19th: Your State’s Next Attorney General Could Help Determine Abortion Access
In the four years since the U.S. Supreme Court ended the federal right to an abortion, state attorneys general have played central roles in both defending and eroding reproductive rights — and their power to do so extends far beyond their home states. (Becker, 11/2)
On the election issues of healthcare and affordability —
ABC News: Many Americans Are Worried About Healthcare Costs As Midterms Approach. Why Do They Keep Rising?
As Americans prepare to vote in Tuesday's midterm elections, rising healthcare costs are among the top financial and economic concerns, according to recent polling. A quarter of voters say they are "very worried" about being able to afford healthcare costs and more than one-third say they are "somewhat worried," according to a KFF poll earlier this month. Those who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) saw their average monthly benchmark premium jump from $497 per month in 2025 to $625 in 2026, according to KFF, particularly after enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of last year. (Kekatos, 11/2)
KFF Health News: A Few Miles From The US Capitol, Dozens Slept In Their Cars, Waiting For Free Care
Friday night lights took on a whole new meaning at a high school here in this suburb of Washington, D.C. Instead of fans packing stadium bleachers to watch football, on this recent October weekend the gymnasium, hallways, and parking areas were jammed with people desperately seeking healthcare at a free pop-up clinic. The 2026 election season has been punctuated by affordability issues, with polls showing high healthcare costs are a top concern among likely voters. The staggering toll of people struggling to get care was on full display here just eight miles northeast of the U.S. Capitol — in an area where census data shows the median household income tops $108,000 and about 94% have health insurance. (Galewitz, 11/3)
Stat: Midterm Elections: MAHA Nearly Invisible On Campaign Trail
Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement rushed into American politics with a promise: Let an unlikely coalition of activists reach the masses, and they will deliver revolutionary gains for the Republican Party. Yet as midterm elections draw near, the movement is nearly invisible on the campaign trail and struggling to find a financial or messaging foothold in key races. (Cueto, Cirruzzo and Payne, 10/9)
Also —
CNN: Voting May Have Benefits For Longevity, Researchers Say
As millions of Americans vote in the midterm elections, a first-of-its-kind study suggests that voting may accomplish more than fulfillment of your civic duty — it may also indirectly reduce your risk of dying early from any cause. (Rogers, 11/2)
