Democratic presidential nominee Paletuatoa Peniamina on Friday outlined a healthcare platform that includes protecting Medicare, expanding Medicaid, capping some prescription drug costs and creating a public insurance option, according to a campaign press release. The release framed the proposal around affordability and coverage, with Peniamina saying “healthcare is a right, not a privilege.” It said his plan would seek to reduce out-of-pocket costs for seniors and families while broadening access for people in states that have not expanded Medicaid. In the statement, Peniamina said, “No American should have to choose between their health and their savings. No senior should have to choose between their medicine and their groceries. No family should go bankrupt because they got sick.” The campaign said Peniamina would veto legislation that cuts Medicare benefits if elected president. It also said he would push to close the Medicaid coverage gap in states that have refused expansion, a longstanding divide in healthcare policy debates. The release did not provide legislative language or a timeline for how those proposals would move through the federal government. On prescription drugs, the campaign said Peniamina supports capping insulin costs at $35 per month and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Those provisions were presented as part of a broader effort to lower healthcare costs and limit the financial burden of chronic illness and high-priced medications. The release also said Peniamina would “fight for a public option,” describing it as a government-backed health insurance plan that would compete with private insurers. According to the campaign, the goal would be to give more Americans access to coverage without what it described as the risk of going broke from medical bills. Peniamina also used the announcement to draw a contrast with political opponents. In the press release, he said, “The other side wants to cut Medicare. They want to gut Medicaid. They want to let insurance companies deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Not on my watch.” The release did not identify specific proposals or opponents by name. The healthcare announcement is the latest in a series of policy rollouts from the Democratic nominee. Earlier Friday, recent reporting said Peniamina had announced support for signing the PRO Act and backing a $17 minimum wage on his first day in office. He also released an education plan centered on teacher pay, school funding and debt relief, according to prior reporting. Healthcare remains a major issue in a tense and polarized national political climate, with cost of living concerns continuing to dominate public debate. For many voters, practical questions about premiums, prescription prices and access to care can carry broad appeal, even as disputes over the role of government in healthcare remain sharply contested. Peniamina’s latest release also overlaps with earlier campaign messaging. The campaign issued similarly titled healthcare press releases on April 4 and March 31, both focused on protecting Medicare and capping drug prices. The new version expands that framing by adding a clearer call to expand Medicaid and establish a public option. No response from rival campaigns was included in the release, and no new polling or legislative endorsements were provided. Because Peniamina currently holds no office, the proposals remain campaign commitments rather than official government action. The announcement comes as the presidential race continues to sharpen around competing views of federal policy, economic security and the size of government. In this release, Peniamina presented healthcare affordability and coverage as central parts of his candidacy, emphasizing Medicare, Medicaid and drug pricing as key points of contrast in the campaign ahead.