[co-author: Julie E. Nolan, Senior Policy Advisor]

We are now one year away from the 2020 presidential election, with the Iowa caucuses (February 3, 2020) and the New Hampshire primary (February 11, 2020) fast approaching. While these two states’ contests are important, in 2016 President Donald Trump and former Senator Hillary Clinton did not become their party’s presumptive presidential nominee until May and June, respectively.

As these first contests approach and primary debates intensify, many of the Democratic presidential candidates are spending more time talking about their health care visions and priorities. We expect that presidential candidates will adopt policy proposals from others as the pool of candidates eventually narrows.

Although President Trump has primary challengers, these candidates have gained little ground. The President is polling at upwards of 90 percent for the Republican nomination, and five states have cancelled their Republican primary contests.

Health insurance coverage expansion, drug pricing, transparency and surprise medical billing, rural health, mental health and substance use disorder, and maternal health are key themes addressed in many of the candidates’ health care plans, which are summarized here and ordered according to current polling on the Democratic candidates.