Skip to main content
Thursday, October 29, 2026Oct 29

This story is free to read.

Why It Matters: Issues at stake in 2016 presidential election

EDITOR’S NOTE: A look at issues at stake in the election and their impact on people.

WASHINGTON – A selection of issues at stake in the presidential election and their impact on Americans, in brief:

HEALTH CARE

About 9 in 10 Americans now have health insurance, more than at any time in history. But progress is incomplete, and the future far from certain. Rising costs could bedevil the next occupant of the White House.

Millions of people previously shut out have been covered by President Barack Obama’s health care law. No one can be denied coverage anymore because of a pre-existing condition. But “Obamacare” remains divisive, and premiums for next year are rising sharply in many communities.