¶ Overview
Hinson opposed expanding Medicare coverage, claiming that it was “socialism.” Hinson twice voted against capping insulin prices for seniors.
Hinson opposed extending ACA subsidies and called the ACA, the “unaffordable care act.” Without extending the ACA subsidies, Iowans could face over $1 thousand monthly health insurance hike and would hit rural Iowa hard.
¶ Hinson Opposed Expanding Medicare Coverage
¶ Hinson Opposed Expanding Medicare Coverage
Hinson Claimed That The Congressional Budget Proposal Which Expanded Medicare Coverage Was “Socialism.” According to the Iowa Starting Line, “Iowa State Sen. Liz Mathis pushed back last week on Rep. Ashley Hinson’s characterization of congressional Democrats’ budget proposal as ‘socialism’ for, in part, expanding Medicare coverage, saying Hinson was simply using ‘a political buzzword’ to dismiss the popular policy. During an Iowa Press appearance, Hinson called the proposed budget ‘the biggest dive towards socialism.’” [Iowa Starting Line, 9/27/21]
- When Asked What Part Of The Budget Proposal Was “Socialism,” Hinson Claimed That It Was The “Drastic Expansion Of Medicare Policy.” According to the Iowa Starting Line, “ Moderator Kay Henderson followed up to ask if Hinson meant the bill’s universal preschool or childcare provisions were ‘socialism.’ After name-checking Sen. Bernie Sanders, Hinson specified ‘unlimited taxpayer spending on community college’ and ‘drastic expansion of Medicare policy’ as part of her issues with it.” [Iowa Starting Line, 9/27/21]
The Medicare Proposal Was To Expand Coverage To Include Dental, Hearing And Vision Benefits. According to the Iowa Starting Line, “Included in Democrats’ Medicare proposal is to expand coverage to cover dental, hearing and vision benefits.” [Iowa Starting Line, 9/27/21]
¶ Hinson Claimed That Americans Didn’t Want Health insurance
¶ Hinson Claimed That She Didn’t Think “Every American Wants Health Insurance”
[AUDIO] Hinson Claimed That She Didn’t Think “Every American Wants Health Insurance.” “I think access to health care is very important. Insurance is a different thing. So I don't think every American wants health insurance and I don't think that's something the government has to provide to everyone.” [River To River, 9/16/20]
¶ Hinson Opposed Capping Drug Prices
¶ Hinson Opposed Capping Drug Prices
[VIDEO] Hinson Claimed That “We Don’t Need Artificial Caps On Medication Costs.” “So what I would like to see happen is targeted fixes on administrative costs, working on getting generic drugs to market faster. We don't need artificial caps on medication costs. We need to actually talk to these pharmaceutical companies so we can balance getting new drugs to market and make sure we get those lifesaving medications researched, invested in safe ways to our consumers. But they also need to be affordable. So those are some of the targeted fixes that I'd like to work on.” [1st Congressional District Debate, 9/7/20]
¶ Hinson Voted Against Allowing The Government To Negotiate Lower Drug Prices
2021: Hinson Voted Against Directing The Department Of Health And Human Services To Negotiate Lower Prescription Prices For Insulin And Certain Medicare-Eligible Drugs That Lack Generic Competition. In November 2021, Hinson voted against the Build Back Better act which would, according to Congressional Quarterly, “require the Health and Human Services Department to negotiate a ‘maximum fair price’ for insulin and select Medicare-eligible, brand-name drugs that do not have generic competition.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 220-213. [House Vote 385, 11/19/21; Congressional Quarterly, 11/19/21; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5376]
2022: Hinson Voted Against Requiring The Department Of Health And Human Services To Negotiate Fair Prices With Drug Manufacturers For Certain Medicare-Eligible, Brand-Name Drugs Without Generic Competition. In August 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Hinson voted against concurring in the Senate amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which would “require the Health and Human Services Department to negotiate a ‘maximum fair price’ with drug manufacturers for certain Medicare-eligible, brand-name drugs that do not have generic competition.” The vote was on a motion to concur. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote 220-207, thus the bill was sent to President Biden for final signage. President Biden signed the bill and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 420, 8/12/22; Congressional Quarterly, 8/12/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5376]
- The Inflation Reduction Act Fulfilled Democrats’ Promise To Lower Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors. According to The Washington Post, “The proposal also would make good on Democrats’ years-old pledge to reduce prescription drug costs for the elderly.” [The Washington Post, 8/7/22]
- The Bill’s Provisions Reforming Prescription Drug Pricing Included An Authorization For The Federal Government To Negotiate Prescription Prices For A Small List Of Medicines Starting In 2026. According to The Washington Post, “The prescription drug pricing reforms aim to help cut costs for seniors enrolled in Medicare. It caps their out-of-pocket costs at $2,000 annually, while allowing the U.S. government to negotiate the price of a small set of medicines beginning in 2026.” [The Washington Post, 8/7/22]
- The Prescription Drug Pricing Reforms Would Save Seniors Money And Save Billions In Savings For The Federal Government Over The Next Ten Years. According to The Washington Post, “The landmark proposal is expected to save elderly Americans money and achieve billions in savings for Washington over the next decade.” [The Washington Post, 8/7/22]
- The Bill’s Fair Negotiation Provision Will Take Effect Only For 10 Drugs Covered Under Medicare By 2026 And Will Increase To 20 Prescriptions In 2029. According to NPR, “The bill includes a historic measure that allows the federal health secretary to negotiate the prices of certain expensive drugs each year for Medicare. But this won’t impact every prescription drug or every patient, and it won’t take effect quickly. The negotiations will take effect for 10 drugs covered by Medicare in 2026, increasing to 20 drugs in 2029.” [NPR, 8/7/22]
¶ Hinson Voted Against Capping Insulin Prices For Seniors
¶ Hinson Voted Against The Affordable Insulin Now Act
Headline: Hinson, Feenstra Vote Against Insulin Price Cap, Axne And Miller-Meeks Support [Iowa Starting Line, 4/3/25]
2022: Hinson Voted Against The Affordable Insulin Now Act, Which Required Private Insurances And Medicare To Cover Certain Insulin Products, Prohibit Deductibles For Insulin, And Cap Cost-Sharing For Such Insulin Products Beginning In 2023. In March 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Hinson voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would “require private health insurance and Medicare to cover certain insulin products and limit cost-sharing requirements for such products for plans beginning in 2023. Specifically, it would require private insurance plans to cover at least one of each dosage form of each type of insulin, such as short-acting, long-acting and premixed insulin; prohibit the plans from applying a deductible for the insulin products; and cap cost-sharing for the insulin products at the lesser of $35 or 25 percent of the plan's negotiated price for the product per 30-day supply. For Medicare plans, it would similarly prohibit the application of a deductible for covered insulin products and cap copayments at $35 per 30-day supply.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 232-193, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The bill was passed by the Senate and both chambers are resolving differences. The bill was turned into the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023 and that version ultimately became law. [House Vote 102, 3/31/22; Congressional Quarterly, 3/31/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 6833]
- The Measure Would Cap Insulin Costs At Either $35 Per Month Or 25% Of A Health Insurance Plan’s Negotiated Costs Beginning In 2023. According to NPR, “The Affordable Insulin Now Act would cap insulin prices at either $35 a month or 25% of an insurance plan’s negotiated price — whichever is lower. The legislation would take effect in 2023 but its fate in the Senate remains unclear.” [NPR, 3/31/22]
¶ Hinson Voted Against The Inflation Reduction Act Which Capped Insulin Prices
Headline: Ashley Hinson Voted Against Lowering Insulin Prices… Because Of The Green New Deal? [Iowa Starting Line, 8/16/25]
2022: Hinson Voted Against Capping Insulin Covered Under Medicare At $35 Per Month. In August 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Hinson voted against concurring in the Senate amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which would “cap cost-sharing for insulin products covered under Medicare at $35 a month.” The vote was on a motion to concur. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote 220-207, thus the bill was sent to President Biden for final signage. President Biden signed the bill and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 420, 8/12/22; Congressional Quarterly, 8/12/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5376]
¶ At Least 287,500 Adults In Iowa Had Diagnosed Diabetes
At Least 287,500 Adults In Iowa Had Diagnosed Diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association, “Approximately 287,500 adults in Iowa, or 10.20% of the adult population, have diagnosed diabetes.” [American Diabetes Association, accessed 4/13/26]
¶ Hinson Was In The Pocket Of Big Pharma
¶ Hinson Accepted $93 Thousand From The Pharmaceutical Industry Which Opposed Price Negotiations
Hinson Accepted $93 Thousand From The Pharmaceutical Industry Which Opposed Price Negotiations. [Open Secrets, accessed 4/14/26]
¶ Hinson Attacked The Affordable Care Act And Opposed Extending ACA Subsidies
¶ Hinson Attacked The Affordable Care
¶ Hinson Dodged A Question On If She Supported A Lawsuit That Sought To Overturn The Affordable Care Act
Hinson Dodged A Question On If She Supported A Lawsuit That Sought To Overturn The Affordable Care Act. According to the Gazette, “That includes whether she supports a Republican legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act and whether Medicare should be able to negotiate prescription drug prices. In an interview Wednesday on KDTH in Dubuque, a caller asked Hinson about the lawsuit. Hinson didn't say whether she supported it. Instead, Hinson told the caller she wants to take the input she has received from 1st District voters ‘and focus on targeted fixes to bills, to the laws we have in place so we can make the system work better for everyone.’” [Gazette, 7/30/20]
¶ Hinson Claimed That Premiums Increased Under The Affordable Care Act
[VIDEO] Hinson Claimed That The Affordable Care Act Wasn’t Lowering Premiums For Families In Iowa. “It's very clear the Affordable Care Act is not doing what it intended to do, which was lower premiums for families here in Iowa. We haven't seen that happen. And across the country they've more than doubled since 2013, and that's just unaffordable for Iowa families. They shouldn't be deciding between paying their health care and paying for food or medicine.” [1st Congressional District Debate, 9/7/20]
Hinson Claimed That Premiums Increased Under The Affordable Care Act. According to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, “‘Clearly, premiums have increased dramatically, in some cases, more than doubled for people,’ she said. One way to curtail costs would be ‘administrative simplification ... because a lot of the health care costs that are being passed on to consumers are tied up in administrative work.’” [Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, 9/22/20]
¶ Hinson Claimed That The Affordable Care Act Was The “Unaffordable Care Act”
Hinson Named The ACA, The “Unaffordable Care Act” And Claimed That Subsides Masked The Rising Cost Of Insurance Premiums. According to Radio Iowa, “Hinson, who’s running for the U.S. Senate, said Democrats put the subsidies in place ‘to mask’ the rising cost of insurance premiums. ‘We can all agree that health care costs are way too high,’ Hinson said. ‘It’s the Unaffordable Care Act. It’s not the Affordable Care Act…I want to work on solutions to lower the cost of care, expand access.’” [Radio Iowa, 11/5/25]
[AUDIO] Hinson Claimed That The ACA Was The “Unaffordable Care Act” And That The Subsidies Masked The Rising Costs Of Healthcare. “Again, this is what we've been saying for years, that the Obamacare right, the unaffordable care act, right. It's not the Affordable Care Act, it’s the unaffordable care act. And so these subsidies simply masked the rising costs of health care for these Democrat plans. Right. And so that's what we want to we want to work on solutions to lower the cost of care, expand that access, and ensure that Iowans aren't paying sky high premiums. But unfortunately, again, it's hard to do that when the government is closed.” [Voices Of The Tri-States, 11/10/25]
¶ The Affordable Care Act Supported Iowans
¶ 2025: 136,833 Iowans Were Enrolled in The Affordable Care Act
136,833 Iowans Were Enrolled In The Affordable Care Act Marketplace In 2025. According to KFF,
[KFF, Viewed 7/28/25]
2022: Iowa’s Uninsured Rate Was Among The Lowest In The United States At 5.4 Percent. According to Axios, "Iowa in 2022 had among the country's lowest shares of residents under 65 without health insurance, according to new Census Bureau data. But newer, preliminary numbers show that might be changing. Why it matters: Uninsured people are more likely to forgo needed care or preventative services, which can lead to higher rates of chronic disease with expensive and disabling complications. State of play: As of 2022, Iowa's 5.4% uninsured rate was tied with Minnesota's, and lower than those of all surrounding states. Only Massachusetts (2.9%), Washington, D.C. (3.1%), Hawaii (4.3%), Vermont (4.9%) and Rhode Island (5.2%) were lower. Catch up quick: Iowa's rates dropped about 10 years ago, mostly attributed to public insurance plans and the expansion of the Affordable Care Act." [Axios, 8/19/24]
The Drop In Iowa’s Uninsured Rates Was Largely Attributed To Public Insurance Plans And Expansion Of The ACA. According to Axios, "Iowa in 2022 had among the country's lowest shares of residents under 65 without health insurance, according to new Census Bureau data. But newer, preliminary numbers show that might be changing. Why it matters: Uninsured people are more likely to forgo needed care or preventative services, which can lead to higher rates of chronic disease with expensive and disabling complications. State of play: As of 2022, Iowa's 5.4% uninsured rate was tied with Minnesota's, and lower than those of all surrounding states. Only Massachusetts (2.9%), Washington, D.C. (3.1%), Hawaii (4.3%), Vermont (4.9%) and Rhode Island (5.2%) were lower. Catch up quick: Iowa's rates dropped about 10 years ago, mostly attributed to public insurance plans and the expansion of the Affordable Care Act." [Axios, 8/19/24]
¶ 2018: At Least 466,00 Iowans Had Pre-Existing Conditions
At Least 466,00 Iowans Had Pre-Existing Conditions. [KFF, accessed 4/13/26]
¶ Hinson Opposed Extending ACA Subsidies
¶ 2022: Hinson Voted Against Establishing Tax Subsidies Towards Affordable Care Act Insurance Premiums
2022: Hinson Voted Against Extending Tax Subsidies Toward Affordable Care Act Insurance Premiums For Eligible Individuals Through 2025. In August 2022, according to Congressional Quarterly, Hinson voted against concurring in the Senate amendment to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which would “extend through 2025 tax subsidies toward Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance premiums for individuals under a certain income level.” The vote was on a motion to concur. The House concurred with the Senate by a vote 220-207, thus the bill was sent to President Biden for final signage. President Biden signed the bill and it ultimately became law. [House Vote 420, 8/12/22; Congressional Quarterly, 8/12/22; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5376]
- The Inflation Reduction Act Included $64 Billion To Prevent Health Insurance Premium Increases For Approximately 13 Million Americans Who Purchased Policies Through The Affordable Care Act Marketplace. According to The Washington Post, “The bill also includes $64 billion to stave off health insurance premium increases for about 13 million Americans who buy coverage through state and federal exchanges under the Affordable Care Act.” [The Washington Post, 8/7/22]
¶ Hinson Opposed Extending ACA Subsidies
Hinson Claimed That The Subsides Masked The Cost Of Obamacare. According to the Gazette, “Hinson reiterated her opposition to simply extending Affordable Care Act premium subsidies without reforms, saying the current framework “masks” rising health care costs. ‘The problem here is that what they’re asking for is to just mask the cost of Obamacare, which is the ‘Unaffordable Care Act,’’ she said. ‘It’s driven health care premiums up, and there’s no incentive on the insurance companies to actually lower premium costs.’” [Gazette, 11/7/25]
Hinson Claimed That She Opposed Extending ACA Subsidies Without Provisions To Prevent “Waste, Fraud And Abuse.” According to the Gazette, “Hinson, R-Marion, said she opposed extending Affordable Care Act enhanced premium subsidies without what she described as guardrails to prevent ‘waste, fraud and abuse,’ but signaled openness to a temporary, bipartisan extension paired with changes to the program.” [Gazette, 1/9/26]
- Hinson Claimed That She Would “Not Support The Status Quo Of Health Care In America Today.” According to the Des Moines Register, “Hinson said she ‘will not support the status quo of health care in America today.’” [Des Moines Register, 1/9/26]
¶ Hinson Supported Health Savings Accounts Over Extending ACA Tax Credits
Hinson Supported Health Savings Accounts Over Extending ACA Tax Credits. According to Iowa Capital Dispatch, “A spokesperson for Hinson said the congresswoman backs efforts to address health care inflation, but is more supportive of ideas on shifting funding to a Health Savings Accounts (HSA) model that directs money to individuals rather than health insurance companies.” [Iowa Capital Dispatch, 12/3/25]
Hinson Supported A Health Savings Account Approach Rather Than Extending ACA Subsidies. According to the Gazette, “U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion who is running for Ernst’s Senate seat in 2026, told reporters last week she prefers legislation that promotes funding Health Savings Accounts rather than extending ACA subsidies.” [Gazette, 12/11/25]
¶ Hinson Voted Against Extending ACA Subsidies
2026: Hinson Voted Against Extending The Affordable Care Act Tax Credits For Three Years. In January 2026, Hinson voted against, according to Congressional Quarterly, the “the the bill, as amended, that would extend for three years, through the end of calendar year 2028, the enhanced tax credits to subsidize premiums for health insurance purchased on the Affordable Health Care Act health insurance markets. It would allow taxpayers whose household income exceeds 400 percent of the federal poverty line to receive tax credits for three more years. The measure would retroactively take effect Jan. 1, 2026.” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 230 to 196. [House Vote 11, 1/8/26; Congressional Quarterly, 1/8/26; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1834]
- The Bill Extended The Enhanced COVID-Era ACA Tax Credits That Republicans Let Expire At The End Of 2025, Resulting In Greater Health Costs For A Third Of All Those Insured Through The ACA Marketplace. According to Congressional Quarterly, “Congress temporarily expanded the tax credits created through the ACA (PL 111-148, PL 111-152) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The enhanced credits expired Dec. 31, meaning roughly one-third of individuals who get coverage through the ACA marketplace are facing significantly higher costs for 2026. The open enrollment period for these plans closes Jan. 15.” [Congressional Quarterly, 1/8/26]
Hinson Voted Against Extending ACA Subsidies. According to the Des Moines Register, “Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents northeastern Iowa's 2nd Congressional District and is running for the U.S. Senate seat incumbent Sen. Joni Ernst will vacate, voted against the bill.” [Des Moines Register, 1/9/26]
¶ Without ACA Subsidies, Iowans Healthcare Costs Would Skyrocket
Headline: Some Iowans Face $1K+ Monthly Health Insurance Spike [Axios, 11/24/25]
The Expiration Of ACA Subsidies Threated Iowans’ Affordability And Coverage Stability. According to Axios, “ For Iowa farmers, small business owners and early retirees buying health insurance through the ACA marketplace, the upcoming expiration of enhanced federal subsidies threatens affordability and coverage stability.” [Axios, 11/24/25]
112,000 Iowans Benefit From ACA Subsidies. According to Axios, “ Around 112,000 Iowans currently benefit from the advanced credits, according to the state's insurance division.” [Axios, 11/24/25]
¶ Iowa Farmers Relied On ACA Subsidies
Headline: Iowa Farmers Union Says End Of ACA Tax Credits A Huge Hit To Rural America [Radio Iowa, 12/16/25]
27 Percent Of U.S. Farmers Relied On Subsidies To Buy Health Insurance. According to Radio Iowa, “According KFF, a health care research group, 27% of U.S. farmers, ranchers and agribusiness managers have relied on subsidies to buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace.” [Radio Iowa, 12/16/25]