Jocelyn Benson for Governor Rolls Out Healthcare Affordability Agenda
Jocelyn Benson for Governor Rolls Out Healthcare Affordability Agenda
"Every day we don't tackle this crisis is another day Michigan families are choosing between prescriptions and groceries."
Today, gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson unveiled her agenda to fix Michigan's broken health care system through a plan focused on affordability, accessibility, and fairness. She was joined by State Representative Jimmie Wilson Jr. and Dr. Aisha Harris, a family medicine physician from Flint who highlighted the stakes of this next election for healthcare and why we need Secretary Benson in office to take it seriously.
"I've been traveling Michigan throughout the last year, and no exaggeration, every stop—from Iron River in the Upper Peninsula to here in Detroit to Flint to Muskegon—Michiganders have shared heart-wrenching stories about a broken, unfair, inaccessible and increasingly unaffordable health care system," said Jocelyn Benson. "While other candidates cast votes over and over to raise health care premiums on our residents, I am here as a candidate who has an actual plan to fix this broken health care system here in Michigan."
State Representative Jimmie Wilson Jr. emphasized the urgency of Benson's plan: "This is comprehensive, bold leadership that Michigan needs. We need a governor who understands that health care isn't some abstract policy debate. It's about whether families can afford to see a doctor, whether our neighbors can get their prescriptions, whether someone's parent gets the care they need or gets turned away. That's Jocelyn Benson."
Dr. Aisha Harris, a family medicine physician practicing in Flint, spoke to the plan's practical impact: "Every day in my practice, I see patients who can't afford their medications that I prescribe. I see families delaying care because they're terrified of the cost. What struck me about Jocelyn's plan is that it's clear she listened—really listened—to health care providers, to patients, to the communities we serve. As a physician, I want to practice medicine, not financial counseling. This plan will let me focus on what's best for my patients' health, not what's realistic for their bank account."
"Black mothers in America are two to three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white mothers. Jocelyn's plan invests in culturally competent care, Medicaid coverage for doula and midwife services, and mandatory bias training for maternal health providers,” said Dr. Harris. “Many candidates will release a health care plan with no mention of Black maternal health care. Her putting this in her first draft of her agenda will be meaningful to many communities impacted by the maternal health crisis we're facing."
Benson's commitment to health care is rooted in both personal and professional experience. As the daughter of two special education teachers and an educator herself who served as Dean of Wayne State University Law School, she understands the importance of accessible, quality care. Most importantly, she's heard countless stories from Michiganders across the state who are struggling under the weight of an unaffordable system.