Much like their Republican opponents, the Democratic presidential candidates are bringing healthcare to center stage.
The shared belief that the Affordable Care Act is going to play a big role in next year’s election is at least one of two things that Democrats and Republicans have in common about healthcare.
The other? Repealing the so-called “Cadillac tax.” Read more about how the provision is uniting both parties and visit NFIB’s healthcare advocacy page for guides and updates on the law.
While both parties are aligned on these two fronts, healthcare views diverge sharply from there: All four Democratic presidential candidates that appeared in the debate—Jim Webb announced his resignation from the Democratic primary Tuesday—are in support of the Affordable Care Act. That is in stark contrast to the leading Republican candidates.
Naturally, each Democratic candidate has a slightly different take on the law. Here is what you need to know about their position and how it impacts your small business.
Hillary Clinton
A longtime supporter of Obamacare, Clinton has recently suggested minor improvements to the law. In a questionnaire for the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which endorsed her this week, the former U.S. Secretary of State noted that the Cadillac tax levied under Obamacare is one area she is “examining.” Politico reported that she worries “that it may create an incentive to substantially lower the value of the benefits package and shift more and more costs to consumers.”
Bernie Sanders
Sanders believes that Obamacare did not go far enough and has announced his plan for the United States to adopt a “Medicare-for-all” single-payer healthcare plan. In last week’s Democratic debate, the Vermont senator suggested, “we should not be the only major country on earth that does not guarantee healthcare to all people as a right.”
Lincoln Chafee
Following the Supreme Court’s upholding of the Affordable Care Act in 2012, Chafee expressed his support for the law and said that it addresses an “economic imperative” by providing universal coverage for the citizens of his home state of Rhode Island.
Martin O’Malley
O’Malley supports the law, but also calls for new ways to improve costs. As mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland, O’Malley pushed a data-driven approach to healthcare cost reduction and management.
*Note: This news coverage does not equate to an endorsement of any candidate by NFIB.
