Healthcare
Healthcare is a human right - not a privilege, not a commodity, and not something families should lose because they change jobs, get sick, or fall on hard times. A universal, statewide healthcare option ensures every South Carolinian can get the care they need without fear of bankruptcy, discrimination, or denial. A healthy population strengthens our workforce, our schools, and our communities.
What I'll Fight For
- A statewide universal healthcare option that guarantees every South Carolinian access to care
- Comprehensive reform that puts patients before profit
- Lower costs for families, including prescription drugs, hospital bills, and insurance premiums
- Stronger rural healthcare systems and expanded access to primary care
- Mental-health and addiction treatment as core parts of healthcare
- Protections against medical debt, surprise billing, and predatory hospital practices
- A system where no one is denied care because of income, geography, or insurance status
Why this Matters in South Carolina
South Carolina has some of the highest uninsured rates in the country. Families struggle with rising premiums, high deductibles, and medical debt that follows them for years. Rural hospitals are closing or cutting services. Mental-health care is underfunded and understaffed. Many residents delay care because they simply can’t afford it.
Working families are stuck in a system where:
- Insurance is tied to employment
- Prescription drug prices keep rising
- Emergency rooms serve as primary care
- Rural communities lack specialists and maternity care
- Mental-health and addiction services are scarce
- Medical debt ruins credit, housing access, and financial stability
A universal, statewide healthcare option would give every South Carolinian access to care - regardless of job, income, or ZIP code - and would stabilize hospitals, reduce costs, and improve health outcomes across the state.
Key Policies and Priorities
A Statewide Universal Healthcare Option
I support creating a universal healthcare option available to every South Carolinian. This system would:
- Guarantee access to primary care, preventive care, and emergency services
- Reduce costs by cutting administrative waste
- Allow families to choose their providers
- Ensure no one loses coverage due to job changes or life events
- Strengthen rural hospitals by providing stable, predictable funding
Healthcare should follow the person - not the employer.
Lowering Prescription Drug & Treatment Costs
No one should have to choose between medication and groceries. I support:
- Capping prescription drug prices
- Allowing the state to negotiate directly with drug companies
- Transparency in hospital and insurance pricing
- Limits on surprise billing and out-of-network charges
Expanding Mental-Health & Addiction Treatment
Mental health is healthcare. I support:
- More crisis stabilization centers
- Expanded telehealth services
- School-based mental-health programs
- Addiction treatment that focuses on recovery, not punishment
Strengthening Rural Healthcare
Rural communities deserve the same access to care as urban areas. I support:
- Incentives to bring doctors, nurses, and specialists to rural areas
- Funding to keep rural hospitals open
- Mobile clinics and telehealth expansion
- Transportation support for patients who need to travel for care
Protecting Families from Medical Debt
Medical debt is one of the leading causes of bankruptcy. I support:
- Ending medical-debt reporting on credit scores
- Expanding financial-assistance requirements for hospitals
- Creating a state fund to buy and forgive medical debt
- Banning predatory collection practices
Improving Maternal & Reproductive Healthcare
South Carolina has some of the worst maternal-mortality rates in the country. I support:
- Expanded prenatal and postpartum care
- More OB-GYN access in rural counties
- Coverage for doulas and midwives
- Full reproductive healthcare access
Healthcare should not depend on your income, your job, or your ZIP code. I’m committed to building a universal, statewide healthcare system that guarantees every South Carolinian the care they need - because a healthier state is a stronger state.