Every congressional and governor’s race tells its own story, but there was no getting away from the theme of affordability. Voters talked about gas prices, tariffs, and grocery bills. They also talked about the incessant rising cost of healthcare.
Healthcare costs are different from most household expenses. They usually don’t spike and fall as much as they climb higher, year after year. For people living with chronic disease, they never go away, which is why it’s so important to look at all policies through the lens of impact on the actual patients.
Not every race has been called, but control of both the House and the Senate will change hands in January. That will likely be the beginning of a new debate over health laws and policies passed in the last two years. Any changes will still need the President’s signature or enough votes to override a veto, so lasting progress will depend on lawmakers from both parties working together.
Here is where the Chronic Disease Coalition is getting ready to act:
- Health insurance affordability. Insurance is the door to ongoing preventive care and chronic disease management, and too many families are going without it. We will push lawmakers to restore help that keeps coverage within reach—including ACA subsidies.
- Medicaid work requirements. These rules start in January 2027, and some states have already implemented them. Rolling them back fully may be hard because of their budget impact and because they are already underway, but Congress can make sure the rules follow the law and that patients aren’t cut off by paperwork.
- Medicaid cost-sharing. Starting in October 2028, many Medicaid adults just above the poverty line will owe copays of up to $35 per service. For someone earning about $16,000 a year, even small copays can mean skipping care that keeps a condition from getting worse. This change costs less to reverse than other provisions, so it may be a realistic target.
- Provider taxes. Limits on the taxes states use to fund their share of Medicaid are also likely to be revisited.
The states matter too. Several legislatures changed party control, and new governors will take office in January. Governors have real say in how Medicaid changes are carried out, which gives patients a new chance to be heard.
More clinicians in office
The next Congress may include a record number of physicians from both parties. Among the winners:
- Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, elected to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina (D)
- Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist trained in medicine and former Detroit health director, elected to the U.S. Senate from Michigan (D)
- John Cowan, a neurosurgeon, projected winner of a U.S. House seat in Georgia (R)
- Richard Pan, a pediatrician, elected to the U.S. House from California (D)
- Bob Onder, a physician, re-elected to the U.S. House from Missouri (R)
At the state level, Ohio Governor-elect Amy Acton is a physician and California Governor-elect Xavier Becerra is a former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
What it all means for the Chronic Disease Coalition
Our commitment to access, affordability, and representation doesn’t change based on who wins. We are a bipartisan organization because lasting policy solutions takes support from both sides.
This year we worked hard to get out the vote and help patients judge candidates for themselves. Many voters talked about how they crossed party lines this year. That tells us people are willing to look past labels to the candidate and their commitment to serve. That gives us hope.
Last week, our Board approved our 2027 policy priorities and strategic plan. We will work to ease the burden of Medicaid work requirements, support state and federal lawmakers, and look at every policy idea through the eyes of the patient. We will keep the patient voice at the center of policy debates and of everything we do.
We’re grateful for our Board, our Patient Advisory Council, and our ambassadors in 35 states and Washington, D.C. Our partnership with MultiState and our partner organizations that are on the ground during legislative sessions have led to real successes.
We hope the new Congress, new governors, and new legislatures help all of us focus on what matters to patients across the country.