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Health and Health Care

Health care costs and access

In Michigan’s 2026 U.S. Senate race and broader elections, rising insurance costs along with federal policy changes affecting rural hospitals, Medicaid, and subsidized plans have made health care a top voter and candidate concern, with differing proposals on how to lower costs and protect access.

How should Michigan address rising health insurance costs and pressures on rural hospitals and Medicaid?

How important is this to you?

Sources

Bridge Michigan — https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/6-major-issues-in-michigans-us-senate-race
Ever-increasing insurance costs and recent federal changes affecting rural hospitals, Medicaid and previously subsidized insurance plans make health care policy a top issue to watch in 2026 — and Michigan’s US Senate candidates have widely differing views on how to bring down costs.
Abdul El-Sayed campaign — https://abdulforsenate.com/priorities
Medicare for All + Veterans Affairs + Break up Big Healthcare + Prescription Drugs + Public Health + Healthcare Freedom for Women and LGBTQ+ Americans
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Enact Medicare for All and break up big healthcare to guarantee coverage and slash costs for everyone
  2. Expand Medicaid and public options while heavily regulating insurers and drug prices
  3. Strengthen the ACA subsidies and protect rural hospitals with targeted federal and state aid
  4. Maintain current mixed public-private system with modest cost-transparency reforms
  5. Reduce regulations and Medicaid scope to let market competition lower insurance premiums
  6. Shift toward private accounts and interstate insurance sales, limiting public program growth
  7. Repeal major federal health mandates and return control fully to states and individuals