Former President Donald Trump claimed credit for lowering the price of insulin for millions of Americans during his administration, despite the fact that insulin prices have continued to drop under President Joe Biden. Trump accused Biden of trying to take credit for his administration’s work, stating that the price of insulin was reduced long before Biden took office. Biden has implemented measures to cap the price of insulin for seniors on Medicare at $35 per month, and has expressed a desire to extend this cap to all Americans who need insulin.
Biden has made health care a key issue in his campaign against Trump, with a focus on reducing the cost of prescription drugs and ensuring access to affordable health insurance. Polls have shown Biden leading Trump on these issues, including a 11-point lead in ensuring access to affordable health insurance. However, the two candidates are relatively split on the issue of addressing high health care costs. Biden’s push for universal insulin price caps has been a central piece of evidence for his economic argument on the campaign trail.
Despite Trump’s claims, Biden has continued to work on lowering consumer costs for prescription drugs, even in the face of high levels of inflation post-pandemic. Trump signed an executive order in his final year in office to cap the price of insulin at $35 per month, a policy that Biden paused upon taking office in order to review new regulations. The memory of Trump’s attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act without offering a viable alternative has dimmed some voters’ views on his health care track record, with Biden leading Trump by a significant margin on health care issues.
Biden has used the success of lowering insulin costs as proof of his ability to reduce consumer costs, despite challenges in the post-pandemic economic recovery. He has pushed for a more universal cap on insulin prices, not just for seniors on Medicare. Trump, on the other hand, has promised to replace the Affordable Care Act in his 2024 campaign, but has not outlined what that replacement would look like. Trump has also accused Biden of spreading misinformation about his health care policies, stating that he aims to improve the ACA and make it less expensive for Americans.
The two candidates are expected to have their first face-to-face presidential debate on June 27, where health care and prescription drug costs are likely to be key issues of discussion. Trump’s focus on claiming credit for lowering insulin prices during his administration contrasts with Biden’s efforts to continue reducing consumer costs and ensure access to affordable health care. Trump’s attempts to repeal the ACA without a clear replacement plan have raised doubts among voters, with many expressing greater confidence in Biden’s ability to address health care issues effectively.
