With the presidential election of 2024 at hand, the gap between Vice President Kamala Harris and that of former President Donald Trump in the shape of proposals on Social Security and health care becomes crystal clear. Both presidential candidates reportedly vowed to protect and strengthen these programs, though their exact plans are radically different.
Social Security
Harris’ proposal: Over the course of her candidacy, and into the vice presidency, Harris has been consistent with her idea to increase the Social Security benefit in conjunction with long-term solvency of the program. Harris has supported Biden’s plan to implement tax hikes on any earners making $400,000 or more annually, thus extending the Social Security payroll tax to higher-income earners. Harris also cosponsored the Social Security Expansion Act as a senator, which would increase benefits and make the program more generous.
Trump’s proposal: Former President Trump has floated exempting the taxation of Social Security benefits, allowing beneficiaries to keep more of their money. Estimates from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget project that would cost Social Security and Medicare approximately $1.5 trillion to $2.1 trillion in revenue between fiscal years 2026 and 2033.
Medicare
Harris’ plan: Under the Biden administration, Harris advanced legislation that would extend Medicare’s solvency and grant the program the authority to negotiate drug prices that would serve to lower the overall cost to seniors and the disabled. The Inflation Reduction Act that Harris supports will save Medicare, over the next decade, $100 billion by allowing the program to negotiate the prices on a portion of certain drugs.
Trump’s plan: Trump has made comments suggesting he’d consider cuts to “entitlements,” which could include Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. His Project 2025 agenda, crafted by right-wing groups, includes a change in federal Medicaid financing to block grants or per capita caps, either of which would deeply cut the program. It similarly calls for dismantling many current federal Medicaid beneficiary and other protections and standards, such as required benefits and minimum income eligibility thresholds.
Medicaid
Harris’ position: The expansion of Medicaid, because of the Affordable Care Act, has covered millions of the low-income population. Vice President Harris has supported such expansion and even in advancing legislation that improves access to care as well as lowers costs for people covered by Medicaid.
Trump’s Position: Trump’s plan, Project 2025, will drastically change the restructuring of the program and make drastic cuts to Medicaid. It is closely aligned with proposals put out by the RSC budget plan. The proposal would block grant or cap federal Medicaid funding per capita; force states to pay more of the Medicaid costs themselves; and eliminate many long-standing federal protections and requirements of Medicaid beneficiaries. It would also create strong financial incentives for the federal government and states to impose additional administrative hurdles and to make it more difficult for eligible individuals and families to apply for, enroll in, and renew their Medicaid coverage.
The bright contrast between Harris’ and Trump’s proposals with regard to Social Security and health care are really matters of pivotal importance for the upcoming election. While Harris has talked directly of programs with expansion and constant strengthening, Trump’s strongly presuppose cuts and the very structure of restructuring that may hit many millions of Americans for years onward. It’s an important prerequisite for voters weighing their options to sort out where candidates stand on these critical issues.
