Where Does Your Presidential Candidate Stand on Health Care Issues?

Written by Erin Woulfe | Aug 12, 2016 6:48:03 PM

It’s important for schools, cities and counties to know where our presidential candidates stand on health care issues. Their viewpoints may ultimately affect what the future holds for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Cadillac Tax and employer-sponsored benefits. Here’s a brief overview of the candidates’ position on health care.

Health Care Issue	Hillary Clinton	Donald Trump
Affordable Care Act	Supports the ACA - will continue to build on its success but plans to make some changes	Seeks repeal of ACA
Cadillac Tax	Both agree that they want to repeal the Cadillac Tax which is the 40% excise tax on high cost health care plans which exceed certain thresholds. This tax is a major funding vehicle for the healthcare law which is slated to go into effect 2020. Both candidates will find other ways to get funding.
Cost of Coverage	Has published a plan for reducing out-of-pocket health insurance costs Will provide refundable tax credit to consumers for excessive out-of-pocket costs Expand pricing disclosure requirements for hospitals/doctors	Provide individual tax relief for health insurance Keep plans affordable Make tax deductible health insurance premium payments Let individuals purchase health insurance across state lines (allows for more competition in the marketplace which may result in lower costs and higher consumer satisfaction) Allow HSA funds to be passed onto family members after death to use without penalty
Health Insurance Carrier Consolidation	With the recent announcement of several large health insurance carriers merging, both Clinton and Trump are concerned that this will lead to fewer options for consumers. They are against health insurance monopolies.
Prescription Drug Costs	Reduce the cost of prescription drugs for families and seniors Hold drug companies more accountable for drug pricing Supports Medicare to set drug prices	Reduce prescription drug pricing Allow overseas drug makers to sell in the United States Supports Medicare to set drug prices
Transparency	Both candidates want to see more healthcare transparency from doctors and hospitals so they can comparison shop for the best deals. Clinton also went on to say that she wants to eliminate ‘surprise’ medical bills.
Other Notable Issues	Continue to work to ensure that mental health parity is adequately enforced (expanding access to mental health care, greater emphasis on early intervention and suicide prevention)	Expand employer-sponsored wellness programs Make changes to mental health programs to help families get the tools they need to help their loved ones

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