2020 TX Senate race: on Health Care


MJ Hegar: Skyrocketing healthcare costs are unsustainable

Establish a public health insurance option. The best health care I've ever had was when I was on military-provided Tricare, similar to Medicare. During my five years working in health care, it was clear that our skyrocketing costs were unsustainable. I will fight for access to quality affordable health care for every Texan and for their right to determine whether that is Medicare or their private plan.
Source: The Texas Tribune on 2020 Texas Senate race Feb 12, 2020

MJ Hegar: Make high-quality care available to all Americans

We must create a public option to make Medicare available for all those who want it. The best health care I've ever had was when I was on military-provided Tricare, similar to Medicare, and I believe that kind of high-quality care should be made available to all Americans. Every child should be covered, period. We can and must protect the progress made by the Affordable Care Act while making much-needed improvements.
Source: 2020 Texas Senate campaign website MJforTexas.com Jan 20, 2020

Sema Hernandez: Supports Medicare for All; will re-introduce bill if needed

I support Medicare For All, as it is defined in US Senate Bill S.1129. This is the direct way to provide full healthcare benefits for everyone and raise the standard of healthcare in this country. I will re-introduce the bill, in its current form, if Sen. Sanders has not done so in 2020. The bill provides everyone with the same coverage, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, race, religion, and other demographic status, eliminating premiums, copays, deductibles, and the Donut Hole.
Source: 2020 Texas Senate campaign website, Sema4Texas.com Jan 12, 2020

Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez: Supports Medicare for All

Cristina would support Medicare for All because it is the most efficient and cost effective way to make sure every American has quality healthcare, and it will allow small businesses and entrepreneurs to accelerate their growth instead of trying to worry about how to cover the cost of healthcare for themselves and their employees. By any measure, our current system has failed us. Cristina will build a healthcare system that works for people, not for profit.
Source: 2020 Texas Senate campaign website CristinaForTexas.com Dec 19, 2019

Royce West: Fought to expand Medicaid

We must stand together, as a nation, and say that healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege reserved for only those who can afford it. That's why, for decades, in the Texas Senate, I have fought to expand Medicaid to our most vulnerable neighbors. No matter your circumstance, our nation benefits from healthy and productive people. I sponsored a bill in 2018 to expand Medicaid eligibility to our military heroes. Texas left millions without coverage by refusing Medicaid expansion.
Source: 2020 Texas Senate campaign website RoyceWest.com Dec 19, 2019

Royce West: Imperative that mental health services be included

It is imperative that mental health services don't fall through the cracks. We must continue educating people on the importance of mental health and include those services with basic healthcare packages. Introducing the importance of mental health to our children is a clear step we must take as a country. I authored multiple bills in the Texas Senate to not only include mental health services in our schools, but to also add mental health care as part of our curriculum.
Source: 2020 Texas Senate campaign website RoyceWest.com Dec 19, 2019

MJ Hegar: Provide Medicare-for-All as public option

Heathcare is another important topic for Hegar. She said she wants all her neighbors, family and friends to have access to Medicare, but also still leave people the option to choose their healthcare providers. "You know Texans are so proud of Texas, and it really rankles when we hear things about (Texas) maternal mortality rates ranking with third world counties," Hegar said. "Those things are really embarrassing to us Texans."
Source: KXAN Austin NBC-TV on 2020 Texas Senate race Nov 17, 2019

Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez: Every person should be able to go to a doctor

Another one of her key issues is health care. Texas has the highest uninsured rate in the country with one in six Texans not having healthcare. TzintzŁn Ramirez supports Medicare for all for that reason. "In the richest nation in the world, I think every person should be able to go to the doctor when they're sick and have the highest quality healthcare when they need it," TzintzŁn Ramirez said.
Source: KXAN-TV NBC on 2020 Texas Senate race Nov 10, 2019

Royce West: Expand Medicaid in Texas to cover all uninsured

West said his experience makes him the best choice. "I've worked to expand Medicaid in the state of Texas," he said. "We lead the country in the number of citizens that are uninsured. It needs to be a fundamental right, but understand this, you can't change this ship in one day."
Source: Dallas Morning News on 2020 Texas Senate debate Sep 5, 2019

Royce West: Not Medicare-for-All, but health care for all

I won't say Medicare for all, but I will say health care for all. Whoever becomes president is going to have a bill and I want to see the following principles: Health care becomes a basic human right. Preexisting conditions are covered. I want us to look at the Affordable Care Act, ObamaCare, and figure out where we went wrong as opposed to starting over.
Source: The Dallas Morning News on 2020 Texas Senate race Jul 28, 2019

  • The above quotations are from 2020 Texas Senatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Texas on Health Care.
  • Click here for more quotes by John Cornyn on Health Care.
Candidates and political leaders on Health Care:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 24, 2020