The 2024 Democratic platform emphasizes the party’s commitment to achieving universal, affordable, and high-quality health care for all Americans. Democrats take pride in their legacy of health care programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has provided security for over 100 million people with pre-existing conditions and expanded coverage for millions more.
The platform calls for continued efforts to ensure every American can access affordable health insurance, backing the idea that health care is a fundamental right. It criticizes Republican opposition to health reforms and highlights the need for systemic changes to address inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly affecting communities of color and low-income individuals.
Key proposals include introducing a public option within the ACA marketplace, expanding access to care, reducing prescription drug prices, and enhancing mental health and substance use treatment services. The platform also advocates for the elimination of racial, gender, and geographic health disparities and increasing investments in community health infrastructure.
Furthermore, Democrats support measures to improve maternal and reproductive health, protect LGBTQ+ health rights, and strengthen the health care workforce. They pledge to enhance funding for health research, combat discrimination in health care, and ensure that health care resources are accessible to all, emphasizing a holistic approach to health disparities, social determinants of health, and the need for equitable treatment across diverse populations.
The Trump Administration’s systematic efforts to undermine, discredit, dismiss, fire, disempower, and diminish the contributions of scientists, in health science and other disciplines, have weakened our public institutions, slowed the pace of scientific inquiry, and profoundly damaged America’s standing in the world. Democrats will protect the independence and intellectual freedom of scientists, whether they are employed by the federal government or receiving federal grants in support of their research, and take steps to shield our scientific research agencies from future political interference.