US Election: Health Care

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Aug 13, 2024

Image copyright: Justin Sullivan/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Imagescontext last updated 7 days ago

The Facts

OVERVIEW: According to some reports, in 2022, US health care spending totaled $4.5T, averaging $13.5K per person and accounting for 17.3% of GDP. The US has some of the highest health care costs in the world due to factors often debated, including administrative costs and research. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2022, 65.6% of the population possessed a private health plan, while 36.1% obtained insurance through public plans. 7.9% of the population was uninsured.
CURRENT STATE: According to the National Library of Medicine, the US population is aging quickly with a growing life expectancy gap against peer countries. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports that it sits below average for life expectancy, avoidable mortality, chronic conditions, obesity, and coverage eligibility, but excels in cancer survival, effective preventative and secondary care, perceived health status, and satisfaction with the availability of quality health care.

The Spin

Democratic narrative

The Harris-Walz campaign is committed to fighting for programs that establish high-quality health care as a basic human right. While Trump and the GOP see the industry as a vehicle for competition and profit, Democrats want to fight for the 26M uninsured American citizens who remain vulnerable to financial ruin if they seek serious treatment. The health care system needs reform, and the Democratic ticket is the solution America needs.

Guardian

Republican narrative

If Kamala Harris truly cared about helping Americans, she wouldn't be proposing health care for illegal immigrants and an essentially socialist policy that would strip 180M Americans of the private insurance they rely on. Not only would Harris' plan extinguish more than half the country's health coverage, it would also cost tens of trillions of dollars. Republicans know there are still Americans in need of insurance, but they also know that demolishing the system isn't the solution.

Manhattan Institute

Establishment-critical narrative

Federal agencies and Big Pharma are working hand-in-hand to reap financial gain and maintain control over America's health care system. While industry elites continue to suppress the truth of this corruption by labeling any alternative opinion as "misinformation," it's imperative that the federal government and its industry overlords be investigated and fully regulated.

The HighWire

Americanprogress