Clinton v. Trump – A Brief Policy Review
Until now I have managed to steer clear of commenting on the Presidential campaign season hoping, I suppose, for an opportunity to discover more about policy positions of the candidates. That hope seems naïve considering the amount of time consumed by television and, for that matter, Facebook, Twitter and social media generally on such topics as e-mail servers, a wall to separate us from Mexico, and various other matters we will typically soon forget when the election is over.
If we lived in a country like Great Britain where, on a vote of “no confidence” after the government is installed there would be triggered another general election, it might be different. But in America, barring extreme circumstances, what we do now will affect the next four years for better or worse. As a former Political Science major and someone who actually still cares, I still believe it is important to project what direction American would take after the dust settles. So with this preface, I began research especially in the areas where I work most – health care, seniors, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, estates and taxes.
Clinton on Healthcare. Clinton has previously supported permitting individuals to voluntarily pay to join Medicare at age 55. https://ballotpedia.org/Hillary_Clinton_presidential_campaign,_2016/Healthcare. She does support continuation of Obamacare including the provisions to prohibit insurers from denying health insurance for those who have preexisting conditions. On Alzheimer’s research, an issue important to me, her website repeats a goal made public by the Alzheimer’s Association nationally to commit to preventing, effectively treating, and making a cure possible for Alzheimer’s disease by 2025 and, to this purpose, an investment of $2 billion per year in research for Alzheimer’s and related disorders which is the level researchers consider needed to achieve the goal. For mental health, she also recently announced the intent to integrate mental health and physical health systems when it comes to access to care and quality of treatment to reduce the stigma associated with receiving mental health services.
Trump on Healthcare. The Trump plan, consistent with prior Republican positions, would repeal Obamacare. While there is no specific replacement, it would allow the sale of health insurance across state boundaries and expand use of health savings accounts. It would also expand healthcare premium reductions. One critical issue is what it would do about the uninsured. Expanded Medicaid which was implemented by Obamacare would be eliminated and there is uncertainty on the issue of preexisting conditions.
Clinton on Social Security. The Clinton position on Social Security is easily explained – no cuts and no privatization, expansion it for those who need it most such as elderly widows and oppose increasing the retirement age. In my humble opinion, this might be wishful thinking. Although the amount of wages subject to FICA could be increased which is what Clinton is suggesting, this alone probably would not make up the difference but the main point is that Social Security be preserved and not be substantially changed.
Trump on Social Security. There is no discussion of Social Security on the Trump website. I did try. However, in an interview with AARP where Trump was asked “what would you do to make Social Security financially sound for future generations?,” Trump responded that “<t>he key to preserving Social Security and other programs that benefit AARP members is to have an economy that is robust and growing. For too long Americans have had a great deal of uncertainty in their lives, and the reforms I will bring to D.C. will remove that uncertainty and will restore confidence in the American economy…” http://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2016/election-2016-and-social-security.html.
Clinton on Medicare and Medicaid. On the Clinton website, a summary indicated that Clinton would “fight back against Republican plans to privatize or ‘phase out’ Medicare as we know it…” That she would “drive down drug costs for seniors and other Ameircans” <and> … that she would “reform Medicare delivery systems to deliver value and quality to our seniors and people with disabilities.” The last point regarding reform likely refers to actions now being taken to pay for results as opposed to fee for service care. Whether this will work will take time to see.
Trump on Medicare and Medicaid. The approach is that improving the economy would make fewer people needing benefits. On drugs that open market would allow for less expensive drugs generally. Medicaid would be limited to block grants to the States.
About the Author Janet Colliton
Esquire, Colliton Law Associates, P.C. Janet Colliton has practiced law for over 38 years, 37 of them in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her practice, Colliton Law Associates, PC, is limited to elder law, Medicaid, including advice, applications and appeals, and other benefits planning including Veterans benefits, life care and special needs planning, guardianships, retirement, and estate planning and administration.