The Health of a Nation: The Politics and Legacy of Health Care Reform

Abstract

Leading up to the 2016 presidential election, the Republican controlled Congress had voted to amend or repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA or “Obamacare”) more than 50 times. This was an issue on the campaign trail and both campaigns offered distinctive positions on the topic of health care in America. The ACA had become a highly politicized and polarizing issue by the time of the 2016 general election cycle. This chapter examines the campaign rhetoric surrounding the ACA and associated proposals to repeal and reform it. Analysis of voters’ candidate affect response toward Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton examines how it influenced appraisals of health care, its reform, and possible repeal.