With the 2024 presidential election less than a month away, both candidates are honing in on major issues affecting Black Americans and people from all walks of life, including health care — a pivotal issue for many struggling to obtain quality and affordable plans amid inflation.
Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris offer different visions for the future of health care in the United States. For one, Trump has consistently called for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare.
The former president has labeled it a “catastrophe” and promised to replace it with a better plan, though the details of his plan remain unknown.
‘Concepts of a plan’
According to USA Today, Trump stated during a campaign stop, “We’re going to fight for much better health care than Obamacare. Obamacare is a catastrophe.”
Also, health care was a subject during the only debate between the two candidates in which Harris expressed her intention to grow the Affordable Care Act.
When asked about whether Trump had a health care plan, the 2024 GOP nominee responded that he had “concepts of a plan” to replace the ACA without offering details.
‘Sandwich generation’
As for Harris’ plan, she has said her administration would expand health care access and strengthen Obamacare.
The 2024 Democratic nominee also proposed broadening Medicare benefits to cover home health care for the first time by focusing on long-term care for seniors in their homes.
“There are so many people in our country who are right in the middle: They’re taking care of their kids and they’re taking care of their aging parents, and it’s just almost impossible to do it all, especially if they work,” Harris said on ABC’s “The View”.
This proposal, dubbed “Medicare at Home”, focuses on providing comprehensive care and support for the “sandwich generation.”
Nearly one-quarter of American adults are in this generation, which includes many undecided voters, according to the Harris campaign. The campaign also noted that over 105 million Americans are acting as caregivers.
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Black Americans face health disparities
Overall, questions have been raised about health coverage for people with preexisting conditions and health care costs, especially for Black Americans, who are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions.
Black voters must consider the potential impact of each candidate’s plan on their health and well-being as they head to the polls in November.
Black Americans face higher rates of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma compared to their white counterparts, according to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
History of mistrust
Mistrust in the health care system has also been an issue, often leading to delays in seeking care and exacerbating health disparities for Black people.
In fact, a Pew Research Center survey from June 2024 found that Black Americans continue to distrust the U.S. health care system and medical research, stemming from historical and ongoing experiences of racism and discrimination.
Fifty-one percent of Black Americans say “the U.S. health care system was designed to hold Black people back a great deal or fair amount.”
Moreover, Black Americans have higher mortality rates from cancer and maternal mortality compared to white Americans, as noted by a Pew Research Center survey. Health advocates say these disparities underscore the need for policies to address the unique health care challenges faced by Black communities.
Trump touts past health care wins, but faces criticism
When Trump was president, he focused on reducing health care costs, increasing transparency, and providing more choices for Americans.
However, critics say his efforts to repeal and replace the ACA overshadowed these accomplishments.
Trump successfully repealed the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act, which required most Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a penalty, according to the White House archives.
The removal of the mandate resulted in “a financial relief to low- and middle-income households that made up nearly 80 percent of the families who paid the penalty for not wanting to purchase health insurance.”
During his presidency, Trump touted several other health care accomplishments. His administration promoted competition in the individual health insurance market, claiming it led to lower premiums for three consecutive years.
The Trump administration has said it increased the availability of short-term, limited-duration health plans, which can cost up to 60 percent less than traditional plans, “giving Americans more flexibility to choose plans that suit their needs.”
Additionally, Trump claimed he expanded Health Reimbursement Arrangements, allowing millions to shop for individual market plans with employer coverage.
However, the Trump campaign has not yet disclosed any new details about a new health care agenda.
In a recent interview with Fox Business, GOP U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy of North Carolina admitted that Trump and his vice presidential pick, JD Vance, don’t actually have a “full, fleshed-out plan” before slamming the Harris campaign for a recent report that criticized Trump’s “concepts” of a plan comment.
“It’s absolutely nonsense,” Murphy said. “For them to come out with a book of fiction, they are just a bunch of damn liars.”
Harris slams Trump in new report
In a detailed analysis titled “The Trump Vance ‘Concept’ on Health Care,” the Harris campaign alleged shortcomings and potential impacts of Trump’s health care agenda.
The report, released by the Harris campaign in September 2024, focused on his efforts to repeal Obamacare and how that would impact various demographics, including Black families and other people of color.
The analysis alleged that repealing the ACA could disproportionately affect Black Americans, who are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions and rely on the ACA for coverage.
As for Obamacare, Harris wants to safeguard and strengthen the health care law. Her campaign recently launched a multi-million-dollar effort to ensure health care remains accessible and affordable, particularly for those who rely on the ACA.
This includes protecting coverage for people with preexisting conditions and expanding Medicaid in states that have not yet adopted the expansion.
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Prescription drug prices
One of the critical areas where Trump and Harris differ is on prescription drug prices. Trump has previously supported measures to lower drug prices, including allowing the importation of cheaper drugs from other countries, according to multiple news sources.
However, his administration faced challenges in implementing these policies. Harris has also stressed the importance of making prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans.
“Donald Trump said he was going to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices. He never did. We did,” Harris said last month during the presidential debate.
Harris emphasized the importance of negotiating lower drug prices through Medicare.
“Medicare can use that [collective bargaining] power to go toe-to-toe with Big Pharma and negotiate lower drug prices,” Harris said during a joint campaign event with President Biden in Maryland.
