What Ohioans Are Reading: Healthcare Costs are Too High & Vivek Ramaswamy Will Only Make Them Worse

February 11, 2026

Columbus, Ohio – As working families in Ohio are struggling to make ends meet as costs rise, Vivek Ramaswamy called Medicaid and Medicare a “mistake” and said Ohioans have only “perceived” rising costs. Earlier this week, Dr. Amy Acton joined David Pepper and Ohio healthcare providers to discuss the rising cost of healthcare.

Statehouse News Bureau: Candidates for Ohio governor talk about the cure for Ohio’s health care affordability

“Four out of ten births are on Medicaid. Three out of eight children receive their health insurance through Medicaid,” Acton said. Acton said 11 Ohio hospitals are in danger of closing, which she blames on Republicans in Congress and lack of affordable healthcare has hurt rural providers.

“I keep hearing stories from Ohioans that they have to travel in many parts of the state now an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes to deliver a baby or to have their kid’s cavity filled. I’m actually hearing stories that babies are being born roadside again,” Acton said.

Columbus Dispatch: Amy Acton, Vivek Ramaswamy spar over Medicaid, health care costs

Ohioans are hurting from the cost of health care. Dr. Amy Acton, a Democrat running to replace Gov. Mike DeWine, says she’ll work on a cure.

Pepper said Ramaswamy’s comment shows a disconnect with Ohio voters who rely on these programs. “It’s quite clear that he’s someone who has no purpose for Medicaid and Medicare, and if you take that seriously, that (not) only doesn’t help the crisis, it makes it far, far worse,” he said.

Toledo Blade: Rising cost of health care top issue in Ohio, Acton says

Ohioans across the state are worried about the increased costs of housing, child care, energy prices, and property taxes — but one issue trumps all of those, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton said Tuesday.

“The number one thing I’m hearing about … it’s the rising cost of health care that is really putting people over the edge in this state,” Acton said during a news conference outside the OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in downtown Columbus. She was joined by running mate David Pepper, former nurse Jan Lanier, and other supporters.

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