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 Our country’s health care crisis isn't just frustrating; it’s unsustainable. In today’s Bangor Daily News, I lay out how I would tackle this insurance crisis head-on as governor.
The Trump Administration just failed Maine people again. Weeks before key Affordable Care Act tax credits expire, Republicans in Congress followed their lead and walked away, leaving tens of thousands of Maine families without the tax credits they rely on to keep health insurance within reach.
More than 50,000 Mainers depend on these subsidies—small business owners, self-employed workers like fishermen and farmers, part-time employees, and early retirees not yet eligible for Medicare. My own family is among them.
Families are facing impossible choices, juggling skyrocketing premiums, unpredictable out-of-pocket costs, and complex and unforgiving systems.
Mainers should not have to live with this kind of uncertainty. Paying a premium bill should not come with dread of a choice between health care, food, and rent.
That is one of the reasons I am running for governor. Maine cannot keep waiting for Washington to do what is right. When federal leadership fails, state leadership must act.
I am hopeful that as we stand at the edge of a national health care cliff, there will finally be consensus and support for a federal universal health care system.
But until there is action in Washington, states must act. And that is why as governor, I am committed to establishing a public health insurance option for Maine.
This public option would give Mainers a more affordable and stable option focused on the health care we need versus insurance profits. It would not replace employer coverage or private insurance. Instead, it would exist alongside them, creating a plan where the state could use its leverage to negotiate for better coverage for those left out of the current insurance market.
Maine families deserve better than uncertainty. As governor, I will fight every day to make health care more affordable, more accessible, and more focused on what truly matters: your health.
We cannot control what Washington does. But we can control what Maine does. If you’re ready to use our power to take on the health care crisis at every angle, will you chip in to support my campaign for governor today?
I hope to have your support.
Thank you,
Hannah Pingree
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