It may be the last presidential debate of this election cycle, but healthcare made a considerable impact.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump met for the first time Tuesday night when they shared the stage for the presidential debate.

Marking the start of their meeting with a handshake — which Trump and President Joe Biden did not do at their debate in June — the two candidates jumped into a fiery back-and-forth over topics ranging from the economy, immigration and, of course, healthcare.

At the beginning of the debate, the two touched on the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic briefly, with Harris claiming that Trump left office in 2021 with the worst public health crisis the nation has faced in a long time. 

Trump shot back that he was the reason for the nation’s swift response to the pandemic due to his efforts like Operation Warp Speed.

However, the candidates also delved into some of the most pressing healthcare topics for the upcoming November elections — including reproductive rights, the Affordable Care Act and drug price reforms.

See what the candidates had to say about the health-related topics and what it means for the race going forward.

Charged abortion dialogue

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Democrats made abortion rights a central pillar of the subsequent election cycles. 

Thus far, it has worked to their advantage — with all statewide measures dealing with reproductive rights favoring the pro-choice option.

Meanwhile, at the debate, Trump argued that Democrats are “radical” in their abortion stance. He made misleading statements about the party supporting abortions that occur in the eighth or ninth month of pregnancy, even suggesting that they approved of abortions “after birth.”

He touted the overturning of Roe, arguing that the federal government shouldn’t be involved in abortion access and the issue should be left to individual states — an argument he’s been vocal about before.

“For 52 years they’ve been trying to get Roe v. Wade into the states, and through the genius and heart and strength of six Supreme Court justices, we were able to do that,” Trump said. “This is an issue that’s torn our country apart for 52 years. Every legal scholar, every Democrat, every Republican… they all wanted this issue to be brought back to the states where the people could vote.”

Despite his praise for the overturning of the landmark court case, he added that he “strongly” believed in the exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.

As it relates to abortion, the major stick point for Trump appears to be empowering states to make their own decisions. He waffled on questions of whether he’d sign a nationwide abortion ban if elected, offering Harris a clear line of attack.

She blamed him for stripping away the federal right to abortion, asserting that the former president “handpicked” the Supreme Court justices who ruled in the Dobbs decision.

She also highlighted the adverse ripple effects from that decision more than two years ago.

“Now, in over 20 states there are Trump abortion bans which make it criminal for a doctor or nurse to provide healthcare,” she said. “Understand what that means: A survivor of a crime, a violation of their body, does not have the right to make a decision about what happens to their body next. That is immoral.”

Harris said that if Congress is able to pass a bill that restores the protections included under Roe, she would sign it into law.

When she argued that Trump would sign a national abortion ban if he were elected — Trump said it was “an absolute lie” and that he would leave the issue to the states. He added that her promises to restore Roe were “all talk.”

Trump also emphasized his support of in vitro fertilization (IVF), arguing that he has been a “leader on IVF,” though he hasn’t elaborated on his proposal to make IVF services available for free nationwide.

The ACA and ‘concepts of a plan’

Although attempts by Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — also known as Obamacare — have largely fallen by the wayside, Trump has tried to revive the debate over the past year — though without much substance.

During the debate, he called Obamacare “lousy healthcare” and made vague claims about working on new plans for replacement programs.

He vowed to replace the ACA, if Republicans come up with a serviceable substitute. He added that as president he made a choice to save Obamacare and “make it as good as it can be” rather than repeal it.

This comes despite the fact that Republicans repeatedly tried to repeal the law during his first year in office, including in an infamous failed Senate floor vote.

One of the debate’s more memorable moments came when moderator Linsey Davis asked if he had a concrete plan, to which Trump replied, “I have concepts of plan. I’m not president right now… I would only change it if we come up with something better and less expensive. You’ll be hearing about it in the not too distant future.”

Davis then put the spotlight on Harris and the suggestion that she flip-flopped on supporting Medicare For All, the call for universal healthcare led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I-VT).

In an attempt to distance herself from her previously more progressive stances, Harris has slid more to the center to appeal to more moderates during this campaign. 

She reiterated her belief that healthcare should be a right rather than a privilege but added that she supports “private healthcare options” as well as expanding the ACA.

“What the Affordable Care Act has done is eliminate the ability of insurance companies to deny people with pre-existing conditions,” Harris said. 

Harris touts drug pricing reforms

Harris used the ACA topic to segue into drug pricing — touting the Biden administration’s drug pricing reforms enacted under the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Most notably, she called attention to the IRA’s Medicare negotiation provision, as well as the White House’s successful efforts to cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries.

“Since I’ve been vice president we have capped the cost of prescription medication for seniors at $2,000 a year,” Harris said. “And when I am president we will do that for all people, understanding that… access to healthcare should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.”

Before Trump had a chance to participate in the drug pricing conversation, however, the moderators moved onto climate change.

To read an October 2024 article on JD Vance debating Tim Walz on healthcare at the vice presidential debate, click here.