If former President Donald Trump wins on November 5 and follows through on his promise to end the Affordable Care Act (ACA), at least four million Latinos would lose their health insurance.
This is revealed in a new report from the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance have told us their ‘concept’ for a health care plan, and it is devastating for American families,” said Brian Nelson, senior policy adviser for the Harris campaign. “The new report our campaign is releasing today lays out for the first time what their plan really is and how it would increase costs and take away peace of mind for millions of Americans. “It is a stark contrast to Vice President Harris’ plan to continue strengthening the Affordable Care Act, reducing costs for millions of people, making prescription drugs cheaper, and providing insurance to more Americans.”
It is cited that in the first debate, Trump promised to end the ACA and he announced that he had the “concept of a plan” that he would enact in its place.
“Days later, Vance outlined the details of this plan, promising to restore hedge funds that would skyrocket costs for Americans with preexisting conditions,” the report states. “This comes after Trump has vowed to ‘never give up’ on his attempt to ‘end’ the ACA, which would deprive millions of Americans of insurance and raise costs for millions more.”
The report cites a message in Truth Social by former President Trump, published on November 25, 2023, where he talks about the high cost of what is also called Obamacare.
“The cost of Obamacare is out of control, and it’s not good health care,” he said at the time. “I am seriously considering alternatives. We had a couple of Republican senators who campaigned for six years against this law and then raised their hands not to end it. “It was a low point for the Republican Party, but we must never give up!”
This newspaper also reported that during the Trump Administration there were express efforts to end or modify Obamacareincluding pre-existing condition plans that would affect 54 million people, including millions of Latinos.
“Trump and Vance have attempted to obscure the details of their plan by not posting it in one place publicly, even though both Trump and Vance publicly shared the ‘concepts of their plan,’” the Harris-Walz campaign charges.
What is the fear with Trump’s health plan
Democrats consider that with the guidelines so far revealed by Trump and Vance, insurance companies could increase costs or even deny coverage for almost 20% of Latinos because they have pre-existing conditions.
“Latinos are much more likely to be diagnosed with many pre-existing diseases,” it states.
The Project 2025 agenda, connected to Trump and Vance, would roll back actions against high drug costs, such as capping the price of insulin at $35 a month for seniors.
That would also include cancellations of other programs, such as the drug price reduction negotiations, which achieved a significant step last August 15 with the first package of 10 drugs.
“This would dramatically increase costs for countless Latinos,” Democrats say. “Latino older adults are also approximately 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than white older adults.”
Other aspects that Democrats warn include actions against reproductive health services, which would affect some six million Latinas.
A possible 20% national tax on imported goods, including medications, would significantly raise costs for Latinos.
“Latinos would be disproportionately harmed by Trump’s tax: one in ten non-elderly Latinos with a prescription report rationing medications due to cost concerns,” the Democratic report quotes.
Keep reading:
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