Health care Q+A with Senate candidates Smith, Housley
That's not to say they agree on the solutions.
Residents have resoundingly told Democratic
Here is what the candidates think about the issue and what solutions they want to bring to
When Minnesotans talk about health care, what are the biggest issues they raise?
The No. 1 issue I hear about from Minnesotans is the rising cost of health care, especially prescription drugs. That's why the first thing I did when I got to the
Affordability and accessibility, particularly in
What are specific proposals and bills you will bring/have introduced to address these concerns?
Expanded choice goes hand-in-hand with practicality. Choice doesn't just involve your health insurance company, it also involves the doctor's office. The current system we have today makes it almost impossible for consumers to see the price of the basic health care services they are receiving. One surefire option to putting consumers in the driver's seat of price transparency is expanded Health Savings Accounts, which is a pre-tax pool of money you can use to purchase health care. Companies providing health insurance to their employees receive a tax benefit, why shouldn't you receive the same tax benefit?
In 2017, I supported reinsurance legislation that has helped to stop dramatic premium increases for individuals and families purchasing their own health insurance in the individual market. While state-based reinsurance may not be a long-term fix, it is a practical tool to help bring down premium costs for the near term.
My first bill in the
My opponent, on the other hand, has repeatedly sided with the pharmaceutical industry and supported giving them billions in tax cuts -- all while costs rise and we pay more. That's wrong.
How do you approach partisan gridlock to deliver results -- and what kind of health care reforms can get bipartisan support?
I will work with anyone -- even if we disagree -- to do get things done for
The partisan gridlock so prevalent in the health care debate today actually began with Obamacare, which did not receive a single Republican vote in
Do you support a Medicare-for-all buy-in and why/why not?
No. "Medicare for All" is just another name for single-payer health insurance run entirely by the government -- and we've seen the detrimental effect of too many government mandates in the area of health care. When the government imposes too many controls, quality goes down and costs go up, and a government-run "solution" won't help our rural communities struggling to attract new health care providers and keep the providers they currently have. If we are going to address the accessibility and costs of health care, government is not the answer.
I support a Medicare buy-in for Minnesotans who want that option. A Medicare buy-in would be a fast and efficient way for individuals to receive reliable coverage, which is why I've co-sponsored Sens. (Jeff)
What parts of the Affordable care Act do you support, and which parts would you like to change?
The Affordable Care Act put protections in place to prohibit companies from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions. We need to keep those protections in place to ensure everyone has access to high-quality health insurance, and we must preserve protections for young people so that they can stay on their parents' health insurance plans. I'm working to make sure every
My opponent supported the Republican healthcare plan that failed in
While we need a new path forward for health care, I believe it is important that we protect Americans with pre-existing conditions. In
As a mother and a small business owner, I understand the importance of affordable health care -- and the necessity of having affordable health insurance to pay for that care. I will work as hard as I can for a market that provides all Minnesotans with affordable, accessible health care options.
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