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the new Voter ID bill in Georgia to help mobilize support in

President Joe Biden is relying on public anger towards the new Voter ID legislation in Georgia to garner backing in.abortion restrictions

“To boost support for his potential re-election, ex-President Donald Trump vows to make another attempt.”repealing Obamacare.

However, when discussing America’s domestic issues, health care is not the sole concern of voters for the upcoming 2024 elections. According to a recent survey by KFF, healthcare is ranked as the top priority among basic expenses for Americans, ranking higher than gas, food, and rent. The survey also revealed that nearly 75% of adults, regardless of political affiliation, express worry over their ability to cover unforeseen medical expenses and other related costs.

Rob Werner, a 64-year-old resident of Concord, New Hampshire, expressed his thoughts on healthcare in an interview at a nearby coffee shop in January. As a Biden supporter, he emphasized the importance of preserving the Affordable Care Act (also referred to as Obamacare) and implementing measures to manage healthcare expenses.

Nikki Haley, who served as governor of South Carolina and as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, continues to compete for the Republican nomination on Super Tuesday, despite losing the initial four primary contests. Both major parties are not relying on healthcare promises as their main selling point in the current campaigns.

However, according to the KFF poll, 80% of adults believe that it is crucial for presidential candidates to discuss their plans for addressing the issue of healthcare expenses. This is a topic that candidates at the congressional and state level should also be prepared to address.

Andrea Ducas, the vice president of health policy at the Center for American Progress, a progressive think tank in Washington D.C., stated that individuals are primarily worried about their personal costs for medical care, and this concern is valid.

Here’s a look at the major health care issues that could help determine

Which candidate emerges victorious in the month of November?.

Abortion

Just under two years since the Supreme Court ruled against the right to have an abortion, healthcare regarding reproductive health is becoming a major topic in this election.

In the 2022 midterm elections, voters showed support for candidates who advocate for abortion rights, leading to a surprisingly successful outcome for the Democratic party. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, residents in states like Kansas, Kentucky, and Ohio (where Republicans hold majority control) have voted in favor of state constitutional amendments to protect access to abortion.

According to Robert Blendon, a public opinion researcher and retired professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, recent surveys indicate that abortion is a significant concern for certain voters. He also noted that approximately 30% of people hold a personal perspective on the matter, rather than viewing it solely as a policy issue. Among this group, the majority align with the belief in the right to abortion.

Blendon stated that there is a considerable number of voters, assuming they attend and participate in casting their votes.

Efforts to increase or limit availability of abortions may impact voter engagement. Supporters aim to include abortion-related initiatives on voting ballots in specific states like Arizona, Florida, Missouri, and South Dakota during the upcoming November election. A national movement towards establishing a uniform abortion policy could also attract a larger voter turnout, according to Blendon.

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The Alabama Supreme Court made a surprising decision.

The potential impact of considering frozen embryos as children in the February election is substantial. This topic poses a divide even within the anti-abortion community, with some advocating for the full legal rights and protections of a fertilized egg as a new and distinct individual, while others see the disposal of unused embryos during in vitro fertilization as a ethically acceptable means for couples to conceive.

Pricey prescriptions

The expense of medication is often a top concern for voters.

According to the most recent poll, over half – 55% – expressed significant concern about their ability to pay for prescription medications.

Biden attempted to tackle the cost of medications, but not many voters have noticed his attempts. Despite its unassuming name, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed by the president in August 2022, contains a section that permits Medicare to negotiate prices for high-cost drugs. It also sets a limit on the total amount that Medicare patients have to pay for prescription drugs, and limits the monthly cost of insulin for those with diabetes to $35 – a policy that some pharmaceutical companies have also implemented for patients with other types of insurance.

Pharmaceutical companies are challenging the legal provision that allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Republican leaders have pledged to overturn this provision, claiming that it would impose price controls and hinder progress in the pharmaceutical industry. However, they have not proposed a specific alternative, as the Republican-led House is primarily focused on targeting pharmacy benefit managers who manage most Americans’ medication coverage.

Costs of coverage

The expenses associated with healthcare are steadily increasing for a large number of individuals in the United States. In recent months, there has been a significant surge in the cost of health insurance plans provided by employers, impacting both employers and employees. This trend is thought to be driven by a high demand for certain medications and procedures, particularly weight loss drugs, as well as overall inflation in the healthcare industry.

However, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is well-liked. According to a poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), a larger number of adults are in favor of expanding the program rather than reducing it. Additionally, a record-breaking 21.3 million individuals enrolled in coverage in 2024, with approximately 5 million being new participants.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the number of enrollees in states dominated by Republicans has seen significant growth, with increases of 80% in West Virginia, close to 76% in Louisiana, and 62% in Ohio compared to the previous year.

The immense public backing for Obamacare and its historic number of participants has created a risky situation for Republicans who want to overturn the law. This is especially true if they do not have a strong replacement plan. Despite this, Trump has continued to mention the possibility of repealing the law during his campaign, although it is difficult to find another Republican who is also willing to take this stance.

Jarrett Lewis, a partner at a GOP polling firm called Public Opinion Strategies, stated that as a candidate continues to discuss a certain topic, their opponents will be forced to address it as well.

“Could discussing the undoing and replacement of a certain policy appeal to suburban women in Maricopa County?” he asked, mentioning the highly populated county in Arizona recognized for its political significance. “If I were a candidate, I would avoid that topic.”

Biden and his team have seized the opportunity to criticize Trump’s plan for repealing the enhanced premium subsidies he implemented during the pandemic. The president has expressed his desire to make these subsidies a permanent part of the law, as they are seen as responsible for the rise in enrollment numbers.

Lewis, a Republican adviser, suggests promoting a market-based system where consumers are more actively involved. He uses short-term insurance plans as an example. According to Republicans, this would benefit a specific group of individuals, although it may not be advantageous to everyone.

Biden and his supporters have expressed disapproval towards the expansion of short-term insurance plans under Trump, referring to them as “ineffective insurance” that fail to provide coverage for critical medical conditions or diseases.

Entitlements are off-limits 

Democratic pollster Celinda Lake stated that both Medicaid and Medicare are well-liked by voters and cover a large number of those who are low-income, disabled, and elderly. As a result, it is unlikely that either political party would support a plan that involves reducing entitlements. However, it is common for candidates to accuse their opponents of wanting to make significant cuts to Medicare, which can be a successful strategy during a campaign.

While Trump has claimed he will not decrease funding for Medicare, Democrats will probably try to link him to other Republicans who endorse limiting the program’s expenses. Surveys indicate that the majority of voters are against cutting any Medicare benefits, such as increasing the minimum age for eligibility from 65. On the other hand, implementing higher taxes for individuals earning over $400,000 annually to support Medicare’s budget is a proposal that received significant support in a recent poll conducted by The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

According to Brian Blase, a former health advisor for Trump and the current president of the Paragon Health Institute, Republicans should focus on reducing spending on Medicare Advantage if they gain more control of the federal government. This will help further streamline the program and ultimately result in lower costs for taxpayers compared to the traditional program.

However, currently, Republicans, including Trump, have shown minimal enthusiasm for this proposal. Some of them are realistic about the risks involved in campaigning for altering Medicare, which had an estimated expense of $829 billion in 2021 and is expected to account for nearly 18% of the federal budget by 2032.

Lewis, the Republican strategist, stated that engaging in an open discussion with constituents about the fate of Medicare is challenging. Usually, it has negative consequences. This discussion will need to occur immediately following a significant election.

Addiction crisis

The increasing opioid crisis in America has affected numerous individuals, resulting in over 112,000 deaths in 2023 alone. This number surpasses the combined deaths caused by guns and road accidents. Those living in rural areas and white adults have been particularly impacted.

The decrease in life expectancy in the United States has been attributed by federal health officials to deaths caused by drug overdose.

The Republican party portrays addiction as primarily a criminal issue, linking it closely to the influx of migrants across the southern border that they hold Biden responsible for. In contrast, Democrats have advocated for increased funding towards the treatment and prevention of substance abuse disorders.

Blendon, the researcher of public opinion, noted that this has an impact on the family and the local community.

Billions of dollars have begun to flow to states and local governments from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and retailers, raising questions about how to best spend that money. But it isn’t clear that the crisis, outside the context of immigration, will emerge as a campaign issue.

KFF Health News, previously recognized as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a nationwide press team that creates extensive reports on matters related to health, and is a key constituent of KFF – the unaffiliated provider of study, surveys, and reporting on health policies.

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Source: cbsnews.com