Former President Donald Trump recently acknowledged that the price of insulin is lower under President Joe Biden’s administration, but he still wants voters to credit his own administration for those lower prices. Trump claimed that his administration was responsible for getting low insulin pricing for millions of Americans before Biden took office and accused Biden of trying to take credit for his accomplishments. This claim comes as Trump lags behind Biden on the issue of health care, which is a top priority for voters as the November election approaches.
A May survey from the nonpartisan health policy research group KFF found that Biden has an 11-point lead over Trump on the question of ensuring access to affordable health insurance. Biden also led on other health-care-related topics in the poll, though the candidates were relatively split on addressing high health-care costs. The two candidates are expected to have their first face-to-face presidential debate on June 27, where they will likely discuss their health care policies and plans for addressing the rising cost of prescription drugs like insulin.
Insulin price caps have become a central piece of evidence for Biden’s economic argument on the campaign trail against Trump. Biden issued provisions under the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at bringing down the price of medicine for seniors, including capping the price of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare recipients. He has also expressed a desire to implement a universal insulin cap that would cover younger people as well. Biden has used lower insulin costs as proof that he has helped lower consumer costs, despite the high levels of inflation affecting the U.S. economy’s post-pandemic recovery.
Trump signed an executive order in the last year of his administration to issue a $35 price cap on insulin, which Biden later paused when he took office as part of a larger freeze on new regulations. However, the memory of Trump-era health care policies has dimmed some voters’ views on his track record, according to a survey that found Biden ahead by 19 points on health care. Trump spent most of his term trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act without offering a viable alternative, which provides health insurance to roughly 45 million Americans.
Trump has promised to replace the ACA on his 2024 campaign trail, claiming that he will make it “much better” and “less expensive” for Americans. However, he has not outlined what this replacement would look like, leaving some voters skeptical of his health care plans. Biden’s efforts to lower insulin costs and ensure access to affordable health insurance have resonated with voters, giving him an advantage over Trump on health care issues. As the election approaches, the candidates will continue to debate their health care policies and their plans to address the rising cost of prescription drugs for Americans.
