PODCAST:
April 29, 2026 ~ Eli Newman, health reporter for Bridge Michigan, and Simon Schuster, capitol reporter for Bridge Michigan, join Kevin Dietz to take a look at Michigan’s healthcare system and what our gubernatorial candidates are saying about it ahead of the election.
LANSING, MICH. ~ Healthcare is a top issue on the ballot for voters in the 2026 Michigan Governor election coming up in November, and Bridge Michigan, in partnership with 760 WJR, did a deep dive with eight candidates on the topic.
Rising costs, like health insurance premiums, continue to be a concern among voters across the state. Along with problems with Medicaid and mental health facilities, the issue is personal for many Michigan residents. While some candidates overlapped their tax policy with fighting these costs, others gave concrete ideas on how to lower prices.
“In terms of direct cost controls, Democrat Jocelyn Benson has proposed having an independent drug prescription drug affordability board,” Simon Schuster, capitol reporter for Bridge Michigan, said on All Talk. “This is something that Gretchen Whitmer also proposed when Democrats were in control. The state legislature would fail to get passed. She’s, I think, hoping that she can get something instituted without the consent of the legislature, which would be certainly a taller ask.”
Some Republicans, including John James and Mike Cox, on the other hand, are focused on deregulating the process of hospitals merging or opening new buildings. This would theoretically increase capacity, and in turn, help prices decrease.
