NH Primary Source: NH health care advocates praise Biden’s new plan to expand Obamacare
(This week's New Hampshire Primary Source column will be published in its entirety on WMUR.com Thursday morning.)
EXPANDING OBAMACARE. Former Vice President Joe Biden’s plan to expand the Affordable Care Act with new federal subsidies is being praised by several health care experts, as well as some of his supporters who are involved in the health care field.
Biden’s plan does not end private health insurance, as several of his competitors for the Democratic presidential nomination would do. Instead, he promises to provide a public health insurance option like Medicare. He would also increase tax credits to lower premiums and expand coverage to low-income Americans.
The plan on Tuesday was backed by Amanda D’Andrea, a New Hampshire registered nurse, who called the ACA and Biden's plan a “necessity and should be protected,” while not endorsing Biden’s candidacy.
Eric Golnick, chief executive of Veteran and First Responder Healthcare of Manchester, said, “America's veterans, first responders, and their families can't afford to start over. We need to improve and expand upon the Affordable Care Act.”
"I've made it my life's work to end the stigma surrounding mental illness,” said former New Hampshire Supreme Court Chief Justice and mental health advocate John Broderick, who is a strong Biden supporter. “Vice President Biden has been a champion for mental health awareness and treatment and I'm glad to see that his new health care plan expands crucial funding for community health centers and mental health care services.”
Tom Maher, regional director for the Healthcare Leadership Council, and Kate Delfino, a small business owner from Rockingham County, also spoke highly of the plan.