Caitlin Owens and Sara Fischer of Axios have a piece up looking at issue-based political spending on advertising. It’s not surprising that health care leads the list, but it’s jarring to see how much health care is dominating.
So far in 2019, $65.3 million has been spent on health care-based advocacy, which is more than double what has been spent on any other issue. By contrast, only $495,000 has been spent on abortion and criminal justice reform. Second place belongs to energy-related issues, for which $19.1 million has been spent.
Between the lines: Most of the top health care spenders are focused on issues like surprise medical bills and drug prices — many of which would cut into the health care industry’s profits.
Where it stands: The biggest spender by far is a dark-money group called Doctor Patient Unity.
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- It has shelled out more than $26 million on ads opposing Congress’ plan to address surprise medical bills. Doctors and hospitals staunchly oppose the leading proposal because it would cost them money.
- AARP and the Partnership for Safe Medicines, an industry group, are on opposite sides of the intense battle over drug prices, which will heat up further this fall…
- One of the top 5 health spenders is One Nation, which is running anti-Medicare for All ads.
- There aren’t any pro-Medicare for All groups in the top 5, nor are there any groups running ads explicitly on the benefits of the ACA.
As you can see, while the left is sleeping, the other side is organized and quite active. The pro-Medicare for All groups probably don’t have the funds needed to spend much on advertising which is likely a third-tier priority for them after field work, voter contact and working (however surreptitiously) on behalf of allied presidential contenders on the Democratic side.
But notice that no one is spending money to promote the benefits of Obamacare. The AARP is engaged in lobbying Congress over drug pricing legislation. but that seems to make up the bulk of pro-consumer spending. Doctors and hospitals are going to win out against patients because they’re in the fight while their opponents are underfunded and distracted.
Overall, health care issues strongly favor the Democrats, and the public supports efforts to reduce the cost of prescription drugs and stamp out surprise medical bills. But that support is less that it could be and at risk of being reduced by a flood of money.
Which groups did the ACA help most? I’m a freelancer in a creative field, and the ACA cost me tens of thousands of dollars I can scarcely afford, without providing any real benefit. (As opposed to potential benefit; it _potentially_ saved my family from bankruptcy, but in fact didn’t because we’ve been lucky with health.)
It was great for to everyone under 26, right, with insured parents? And didn’t make much difference for anyone with employee-based insurance? What groups are the big winners?
I honestly, even now, don’t entirely know what the benefits are, other’n getting rid of junk insurance (which, in my experience, is the only kind of insurance that exists, so.). It slowed the increase of the cost of insurance? My insurance is far better than it was, but I don’t use my insurance, and I spend 3 days a year baffled and enraged as I’m forced to jump through hoops I don’t understand to buy insurance from assholes I hate once again.
If you have a pre-existing condition that requires expensive medicine ($500+ a month in my case if I didn’t have insurance), you’d be in one of the groups the ACA has very much helped (especially since I am self-employed and can’t get an employer sponsored plan — without protection for pre-existing conditions I’d be screwed). And I’m in great shape compared to much of my cohort.
Oh, of course! Pre-existing conditions. I knew I was missing something major.
Our side has never had the money. Instead there are millionaires like Tom Steyer blowing their millions on self aggrandizing campaigns for themselves. It sure as hell isn’t our fault that we are decidedly at a disadvantage on any fight for justice and against institutional power.