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HANOVER, N.H. — Well being care points are necessary to Lana Leggett-Kealey, who works as a genetic genealogist. However on Tuesday, as she walked out of her polling place at a neighborhood highschool and right into a frigid New England morning, she mentioned she had one thing larger on her thoughts when she forged her vote.
“I wish to be certain that we now have somebody competent within the White Home,” she mentioned. She wrote in President Joe Biden’s title on her poll in New Hampshire’s Democratic main.
The Reasonably priced Care Act’s future is necessary to Robert Stanhope, a retired invoice collector. He mentioned he additionally wrote in Biden, whose administration has labored to cut back prices beneath the ACA.
However that wasn’t his motivation for his early-morning go to to the polls. “I’m right here to maintain Trump out of workplace,” Stanhope mentioned.
Elaine Kozma, 73, of New London mentioned well being care points are vitally necessary to her as a most cancers survivor. She mentioned she voted for Republican Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor, whom she thinks she will belief greater than former President Donald Trump.
Voters casting their first ballots within the 2024 presidential election cycle on Tuesday framed well being care as a back-burner problem, capping years of political wrangling over Obamacare and a pandemic that strained the nation’s well being system.
In interviews with greater than 50 voters this week in New Hampshire — a state the place 95% of residents have medical health insurance, one of many highest charges within the nation — most individuals mentioned their vote was about Trump, like him or hate him. However well being care issues — about prices, entry, and, particularly amongst Democrats, abortion — weren’t removed from many citizens’ minds.
“I’ve two daughters and 5 sisters and a mother, so ensuring ladies’s reproductive rights are protected is necessary to me,” mentioned Rob Houseman, 60, a city official in Hanover. Anxious that Republicans will attempt to “weaponize well being care” as an alternative of making certain entry, he mentioned he voted for Biden.
Trump defeated Haley within the state’s GOP main, based on The Related Press. Biden, who didn’t seem on the poll as a consequence of disagreements over the first schedule, received the Democratic contest owing partially to a vigorous write-in marketing campaign.
Many against Trump cited issues about his health to steer, whereas most Trump voters who spoke with KFF Well being Information mentioned they supported him for 2 important causes: They hoped he would cut back unlawful immigration and decrease inflation.
Democratic voters had been extra seemingly than Republicans to quote heath care as a key problem within the election.
“Oh my, sure,” mentioned Ben Gilson, 90, a retired orthopedic surgeon. “Well being care is my No. 1 problem.”
Whereas he mentioned he has glorious protection and pays little in out-of-pocket prices, he worries many youthful folks battle and desires to verify Obamacare is retained. Considered one of Trump’s earliest guarantees throughout his 2016 marketing campaign was to repeal and change the ACA — a vow he has just lately revived in his newest try and win the White Home.
In New London, Kate Turcotte, a professor at Colby-Sawyer School, mentioned she voted for Biden to maintain Trump out of workplace — and since she trusts Democrats extra to enhance well being protection and defend abortion rights.
She mentioned she additionally worries Trump will attempt to reduce well being look after essentially the most susceptible. “Well being care needs to be a proper, not a privilege,” she mentioned.
Trump voters regularly cited immigration as a prime concern. Republicans have accused Biden of permitting file numbers of immigrants to cross into the U.S. from Mexico.
In Merrimack, Mary Clancy, 69, mentioned she was happy along with her Medicare protection and was voting for Trump primarily to safe the southern border.
Kathy Franqui, 54, of Merrimack, mentioned the border and immigration had been her important causes for voting for Trump. However she additionally mentioned Trump would cut back well being prices.
At a espresso store in Warner, Susan Hencke, 62, mentioned she pays $1,100 a month for medical health insurance. However she mentioned well being care was not among the many components figuring out how she would vote.
She mentioned having a president who will defend civil rights issues most to her. She was undecided about whom to help.
Each she and her husband, who declined to offer his title, mentioned they had been involved about abortion restrictions Trump could impose.
Sitting outdoors the espresso store within the freezing climate was Artwork Sullivan, 75, of Hooksett, who mentioned immigration was his overriding problem within the election — and why he was voting for Trump.
Requested if he had been personally affected by immigration, he mentioned he was frightened his kids must shoulder the monetary burden of individuals coming into the U.S. with out authorization.
“The border is a shame,” mentioned Sullivan, who mentioned he’s a registered impartial voter and sells swimming swimming pools.
Requested if well being care was one thing he thought of when evaluating candidates, he mentioned he had a Medicare Benefit plan that covers his payments and offers entry to care.
DJ Annicchiarico, co-owner of United Shoe Restore in downtown Harmony, mentioned he’s a registered Democrat. However whereas he prefers Biden on well being points, he isn’t but persuaded to vote for him in November.
His important concern is inflation. He mentioned the ACA, which he described as a step in the best route, had helped decrease his insurance coverage premiums however hadn’t managed well being care costs. “One thing must be finished to rein in inflation,” he mentioned.
Annicchiarico mentioned he desires to see well being care costs regulated by the federal authorities and worries Trump would attempt to repeal the ACA. He famous entry remains to be a difficulty and mentioned getting a dermatology appointment for his daughter meant ready eight months.
Aalianna Marietta, 21, a school pupil, mentioned well being care was necessary to her, notably abortion rights, so she can be voting for Biden. “I’m 100% pro-choice, and I can’t see myself voting for somebody who’s racist and a misogynist,” she mentioned of Trump.
Deb Shope, 57, out strolling her canine in Lebanon, mentioned well being care is a prime problem for her as a result of she works as a medical social employee and sees how necessary good well being protection may be. She mentioned she was voting for Biden as a result of she preferred how he has tried to assist folks get protection and tackle their psychological well being care wants.
Shope mentioned it’s exhausting to look past how Trump acts as an individual. Requested if she is frightened about him getting reelected, she mentioned folks shouldn’t fear about issues out of their management.
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