2016 Presidential Candidates on the Issues: Healthcare Reform

 Jeb (John Ellis)

Bush                                                                                          

• Would repeal and replace Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act), providing a “transition plan” for those already in the system.
• Allow people to buy cheaper “catastrophic” plans that would eliminate many of the benefits now required by law.
• He would keep the Cadillac Tax on super expensive health plans.
• Create block grants to states for their healthcare spending.
• Plan emphasizes high deductible plans in conjunction with healthcare savings accounts.

 Ben Carson

Johns Hopkins Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery 1984-2013. Author.

• Make the insurance companies into non-profit organizations.
• Have the government issue catastrophic care policies – like FEMA does for flood insurance.
• Replace Obamacare with Health Empowerment Accounts, subsidize these accounts for the poor.

 Ted Cruz

United States Senator from Texas 2013-Present, Morgan, Lewis, & Bockius LLP 2008-2013, Solicitor General of Texas 2003-2008. Associate deputy attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice; director of the Office of Policy Planning, Federal Trade Commission both positions held during the Bush Administration.

• Supports repealing and has vowed to repeal Obamacare and replacing it with market-based insurance.
• Seems to be confused as to whether he has health insurance or not.
• No healthcare plan under the Issues section of the campaign website.

 John Kasich

• Would repeal and replace Obamacare.
• More preventative care and primary care.
• Contain costs.
• Expanded Medicaid in Ohio

 Marco Rubio

United States Senator from Florida 2010-Present, Professor, Florida International University, Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs 2008-Present, Representative, 111^th District, Florida House of Representatives 2000-2008, City Commissioner for West Miami, Florida.

• Repeal and replace with a market based alternative.
• Reform insurance regulation to insure that people with pre-existing conditions like cancer, diabetes, or other illnesses would be able to access coverage.

 Donald Trump                                                                                    

• Candidate has no stated plan or position on his current website.
• Has at times advocated for single payer, but also wants to repeal and replace Obamacare with health savings accounts – which already exist.
• Um. I don’t know. This?
• “We’ll work something out.”

                                                                                                                  Democratic Party

Hillary Clinton                                                    

Clinton Foundation 2013-2015, Secretary of State 2009-2013, candidate for President 2008 election United States Senator from New York 2001-2009.

• Expand Obamacare (Affordable Care Act) and crack down on profiteering drug companies.
• Expand healthcare accessibility to people living in rural America, who often don’t have quality or affordable healthcare providers at hand.
• Lower co-pays and deductibles and get tough with insurance companies.

Bernie Sanders

US House of Representatives, State of Vermont At-Large District 1991-2007, and United States Senator for Vermont 2007-Present.

• Notes that every other industrialized “First World” nation has a universal healthcare system.
• Views healthcare as the right of every man, woman, and child in America.
• Advocates for “Medicare for All” or a single payer system in which the government pays the health care costs for the people and negotiates directly with drug companies and other providers.