President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are focusing on health care as a winning issue ahead of the upcoming elections, with a particular emphasis on reproductive rights. The duo plans to contrast their vision for health care and reproductive rights with proposals put forth by Republicans. The trip to North Carolina is seen as a possible pickup opportunity for the Democratic ticket, as polls show a close race between Biden and former President Donald Trump in the state.
The visit to North Carolina is the final stop in Biden’s post-State of the Union tour of battleground states. The president’s advisers have long signaled their intent to prioritize health care in the upcoming campaign, with a focus on expanding access and lowering costs. They are expected to highlight the success of the Affordable Care Act and discuss efforts to lower prescription drug costs. The pair will also address recent proposals by Republicans to make changes and cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act.
Biden’s team is hopeful that their focus on health care issues will resonate with voters, especially given recent proposals by Republicans to slash federal spending on health care programs. The proposed budget from the Republican Study Committee includes ending federal premium subsidies, eliminating protections for preexisting conditions, and turning Medicaid into a block grant program. Biden and Harris aim to contrast these proposals with their efforts to protect reproductive rights and expand access to health care.
The Biden administration has made efforts to expand health insurance coverage in states like North Carolina, which recently became the 40th state to expand Medicaid to low-income adults under the Affordable Care Act. The move has provided coverage to over 400,000 residents in the state. Despite this progress, there are still ten GOP-led states, including Texas and Georgia, that have not expanded Medicaid, leaving 1.5 million Americans in the coverage gap. The Biden administration has been urging more states to expand Medicaid by offering enhanced federal funding for two years.
President Biden has also highlighted his achievements in health care, including a record number of sign-ups for coverage through the Affordable Care Act exchanges and efforts to reduce drug prices. He has proposed making permanent the enhanced subsidies under the ACA, expanding Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices, and providing Medicaid-like coverage to low-income adults in states that have not expanded Medicaid. The president’s focus on health care aims to contrast his efforts with those of his predecessor and potential rival in the 2024 presidential election.
The upcoming elections in North Carolina are expected to be competitive, with a closely watched governor’s race between Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. The race to replace outgoing Governor Roy Cooper, who is term-limited, will feature contrasting candidates with different viewpoints on key issues. The president’s visit to North Carolina is part of a broader strategy to highlight the importance of health care and reproductive rights in this critical battleground state.
