Health Policy Resources for Covering the Democratic Presidential Primary Debates

As the Democratic presidential candidates continue to debate and campaign for their party’s 2020 nomination, health care ranks high on the list of issues that Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents want the candidates to discuss. KFF offers independent, non-partisan policy analysis, polling and other research and has experts who can provide context, explain trade-offs and provide key data points on health care issues that may arise in the debates and broader campaign. Some key resources:

Medicare-for-all and Other Proposals to Expand Public Coverage

• Our November poll examines which candidates Democrats trust on health care and assesses public support for Medicare-for-all and a public option. This slideshow captures our most relevant polling data on the public’s views of Medicare-for-all, a public option and other approaches.
• This slideshow highlights the leading candidates’ positions on Medicare-for-all and a public option, including key differences among plans. This side-by-side comparison tool compares the major bills introduced in Congress this year to expand public health coverage. This explainer examines key aspects of public option proposals and their potential implications.
• This column from KFF’s Drew Altman highlights how Medicare-for-all is popular with Democrats in key battleground states but significantly less so among swing voters. (Additional Drew Altman columns here.)

• This analysis estimates how often consumers receive surprise medical bills when getting emergency room and hospital care, and describes key proposals to protect consumers. This brief looks at variations by conditions, with heart attack patients and women undergoing mastectomies having a higher-than-average chance of getting an unexpected out-of-network bill.
• This polling data note looks at Americans’ challenges affording health care.

• This report assesses the effects of the ACA’s Medicaid expansion on coverage, access to care, state budgets, and the economy in states that adopted it.
• This brief looks at how the number of people without health insurance changed under the ACA and why millions remain uninsured today. This brief looks at health coverage and care, and he uninsured rate, for undocumented immigrants, who are ineligible for Medicaid, Medicare and ACA coverage.