HealthDay interviews Marianne Udow-Phillips about prognosis for health care in America following a Biden victory
On November 4, 2020, while votes were still being tabulated in states across the country, HealthDay’s Mabel Jong interviewed Marianne Udow-Phillips, founding executive director of CHRT, about the future of health care in America if Biden were to win the electoral college. Biden and Trump have drastically different health care plans, and insurance coverage continues to be a critical topic for voters. Udow-Phillips and Brian Blase, an advisor to President Trump, discuss the implications of the election outcome.
Udow-Phillips states that Biden plans to build on the Affordable Care Act by expanding eligibility for subsidies and to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60. Biden also has a plan for creating a “public option” for health insurance, says Udow-Phillips in the interview. And Biden has plans to make Affordable Care Act coverage more accessible by, for example, expanding the annual open enrollment period, which was reduced to a six-week period under the Trump Administration. Udow-Phillips also speaks about similiarities in Biden and Trump’s plans to lower prescription drug costs.
Jong questions Udow-Phillips about her predictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic if Biden takes office. Udow-Phillips talks of Biden’s plan to create a mask-mandate, strengthen the role of public health officials such as Dr. Fauci and other epidemiologists, and provide a second stimulus and more financial support for the health care system.