2020 VT Governor's race: on Health Care

David Zuckerman: Supports Medicare for All

Healthcare is a human right. Every Vermonter should have access to healthcare when they need it. Healthcare should not be tied to employment. No one should die or be forced into financial hardship or bankruptcy as a result of a health condition. While a national single-payer healthcare system (Medicare For All) is the ideal way to cover all Americans, keep healthcare costs in check, and ensure access to preventative healthcare, there are also steps that we can take here in Vermont. Source: 2020 Vermont governor campaign website ZuckermanForVT.com Apr 3, 2020

David Zuckerman: Stop seeing mental health as separate from physical health

We must stop seeing "mental health" as a separate category from physical health. Just as we view environmental conditions as having an impact on our physical health, we must look at some of the environmental conditions that are also impacting the mental health of many. The stress of economic uncertainty is straining many families. Homelessness from economic strain is also compounding mental health issues. We must work to address these areas that are making the mental health crisis worse. Source: 2020 Vermont governor campaign website ZuckermanForVT.com Apr 3, 2020

Rebecca Holcombe: Confront out of control costs; coordinate state government

As your governor, I will:

Confront out of control costs of healthcare and pharmaceuticals.
Strengthen coordination across state government to make sure critical services from mental health support, to child care, to public health services can be provided in more cost-effective and community-friendly ways.

Source: 2020 Vermont governor campaign website RebeccaHolcombe.com Mar 26, 2020

Rebecca Holcombe: Scary anyone in public office would doubt value of vaccines

On the anti-vaxx movement: "In moments like this, we see just how critical it is that we support vaccines and make them as available as possible," said Holcombe. "It's scary that anyone in public office or seeking public office would cast doubt about the value of vaccines. It's unbelievable this is even up for debate." Source: Politico.com on 2020 Vermont gubernatorial race Mar 21, 2020

Rebecca Holcombe: Will confront out of control costs of healthcare, drugs

As your governor, I will confront out of control costs of healthcare and pharmaceuticals: Strengthen coordination across state government to make sure critical services from mental health support, to child care, to public health services can be provided in more cost-effective and community-friendly ways. Source: 2020 Vermont governor campaign website RebeccaHolcombe.com Jan 23, 2020

Rebecca Holcombe: If you can't afford health care, it's sick care

She says health care is a primary struggle. "What I hear is that they're feeling that things are getting worse. Their health insurance premiums have gone up by double digits. If you can't afford health care, it's not health care, it's sick care. People literally can't take care of themselves," Holcombe said. "They need a governor who's going to lean into figuring out bringing down the prices." Source: WCAX TV-3 on 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial race Jan 20, 2020

Rebecca Holcombe: Should not have to turn down jobs for healthcare eligibility

Vermont needs a governor who will push back on pharmaceutical and insurance companies and build our health care workforce. It needs a governor who will make sure less wealthy Vermonters don't have to turn down higher wage jobs or reduce their hours to stay eligible for health care. As governor, I will take on the cost of health care, so that Vermonters are free to work, earn and care for their families. Source: VtDigger commentary on 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial race Nov 7, 2019

Rebecca Holcombe: Health is one sector that touches everything

The underlying cost of health care has gone up 6% in one year. Health insurance rates for qualified health plans have gone up double digits this year. People cannot afford this, particularly younger and working-age people. One-third of people in Vermont that are of working age are under insured. Health is one sector that touches everything. If we want to make Vermont more affordable, we have to do the hard work to make sure healthcare is affordable and accessible. Source: The Dartmouth on 2020 Vermont gubernatorial race Sep 27, 2019

Rebecca Holcombe: State's mental health system is underfunded

The state's mental health system is underfunded. Schools can only treat children but can't treat family. What we really need to do is help the families of the kids exposed to trauma. We can treat children, but if we send them back to a family struggling, then the child will just be re-exposed to trauma. Instead of trying to treat people after they are hurt, we need to go to the source and find out what is hurting people in the first place. Source: The Dartmouth on 2020 Vermont gubernatorial race Sep 27, 2019

Eddie Melton: Rejects increased Medicaid funding, should deal with costs

Scott is rejecting a push from state regulators to dramatically increase Medicaid funding, disputing their argument that the underfunding of the program is the reason for rising commercial insurance rates. The governor said that in recent years the state has increased the rate that Medicaid pays providers, while the number of Vermonters in the program has decreased. "The root of the problem" is that the cost of health care is too high--not that the state's Medicaid program has been underfunded. Source: VTdigger.org coverage of 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial race Sep 12, 2019

Eddie Melton: Signed state individual mandate; goes into effect in 2020

Vermont and New Jersey have passed state laws that require people to buy health insurance. These individual mandate laws are meant replace the now-repealed federal requirement. Scott signed an individual mandate bill in late May, but it won't take effect until 2020 and many of the details, including the penalty and enforcement mechanisms, still need to be decided. Source: The Hill coverage of 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial race Jun 2, 2018

The above quotations are from 2020 Vermont Gubernatorial 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 Vermont on Health Care. Click here for more quotes by Phil Scott on Health Care.
*Candidates and political leaders on Health Care:*
*Gubernatorial Debates 2020:* DE: vs.Carney(incumbent) vs.Williams(D) IN: vs.Holcomb(incumbent) vs.Melton(D) vs.Myers(D) MO: Parson(incumbent) vs.Galloway(D) vs.Neely(R) MT: Bullock(retiring) vs.Fox(R) vs.Perry(R) vs.Gianforte(R) vs.~~Stapleton~~(R) vs.Olszewski(R) vs.Neill(D) vs.Schreiner(D) vs.Cooney(D) vs.Williams(D) NC: Cooper(incumbent) vs.Forest(R) vs.Grange(R) ND: Burgum(incumbent) vs.Coachman(R) vs.Lenz(D) NH: Sununu(incumbent) vs.Volinsky(D) vs. fsFeltes(D) PR: Rossello(D) vs.Garced(D) vs.Pierluisi(D) UT: Herbert(retiring) vs.Huntsman(R) vs.Cox(R) vs.Burningham(R) vs.Newton(D) vs.Hughes(R) VT: Scott(incumbent) vs.Holcombe(D) vs.Zuckerman(D) WA: Inslee(incumbent) vs.Bryant(R) vs.Fortunato(R) WV: Justice(incumbent) vs.Folk(R) vs.Thrasher(R) vs.Vanover(D) vs.Smith(D) vs.Ron Stollings(D)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2021:* NJ: Murphy(D) vs.Ciattarelli(R) VA: Northam(D,term-limited) vs.Herring(D) vs.Chase(R) vs.Fairfax(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2019:* KY: Bevin(R) vs.~~Goforth~~(R,lost primary) vs.~~Adkins~~(D,lost primary) vs.Beshear(D) vs.~~Edelen~~(D,lost primary) LA: Edwards(D) vs.Rispone(R) vs.Abraham(R) vs.~~Kennedy~~(R,declined) MS: ~~Bryant~~(R,retiring) vs.Foster(R) vs.Hood(D) vs.Reeves(R) vs.Waller(R)
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Page last updated: Nov 03, 2020