Heidi Heitkamp op-ed: Working-class voters, your ballot is your health, and the stakes are higher than ever

October 19, 2020

As the presidential election quickly approaches, the health of the United States and its rural communities is on the ballot, and the stakes have never been higher. Health care costs are already a heavy burden on personal finances, and high rates of unemployment have made health coverage and payments even more challenging for working-class Americans.

President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats did the right thing by passing the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Its many benefits have become even more obvious during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have spent years trying and failing to dismantle the ACA, which would inflate costs and destroy coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

In a time when unemployment has risen and incomes have fallen, the high cost of health care has been an acute pressure point. Average family premiums have increased 55 percent in the past decade, which outpaces the 26 percent increase in workers’ earnings. Currently, unemployment is around 13.6 million, making it nearly impossible for many middle-class Americans to stomach personal health-care costs, while educating their children and keeping food on the table.

In addition, according to data from the Health Policy Institute, rural Americans bear a higher burden for access to health care, as rural residents pay 29 percent of their health care costs out-of-pocket, significantly more than their city-dwelling counterparts. Rural Americans also have fewer choices of health providers, as fewer than 11 percent of physicians in the U.S. practice in rural areas.

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/19/working-class-voters-your-ballot-is-your-health-heidi-heitkamp-.html