Sanders' Single-Payer Bill Gathers Democratic Support
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What’s the story?
On Wednesday afternoon Vermont Senator and former Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders introduced his latest universal healthcare proposal—the Medicare For All Act of 2017. Support for the bill is growing among top Democrats, despite its lack of funding detail — the plan would require significant tax hikes — and the improbability of it passing under a Republican-led Congress. Currently, 16 senators have signed on to co-sponsor the bill, several of whom, including Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California, are considered strong contenders for the Democratic presidential ticket in 2020.
Why does it matter?
Sanders’ legislation looks to phase in Medicare coverage over four years to all Americans. In the first year coverage would be expanded to include dental and vision. It would also be offered to all children under the age of 18, in addition to all people over the age of 55. The second year eligibility would be extended to all Americans over 45 years old; the third year it would go to those over 35. In the fourth year it would expand to cover all Americans.
There would be no deductibles or co-pays for comprehensive coverage, though the legislation allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services the latitude to institute co-pays for branded prescriptions in order to encourage the use of generics. Private insurers would still be able to offer coverage for elective treatments, like plastic surgery, and for non-necessity items, like private hospital rooms.
Abortion would be covered as part of the comprehensive coverage, flying in the face of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds being spent to pay for abortion. Long-term care would not be covered, though Sanders’ aides have stated that would be included in another bill.
Also not included in the legislation: How it would all be paid for.
Sanders has acknowledged it would have to include tax increases on individuals and also on businesses, which under his bill would no longer shoulder the burden of providing employer-based healthcare plans. He maintains that Americans will be happy to pay higher taxes once they understand what they will receive in exchange.
He also points to examples, like Canada, where citizens pay higher than average taxes compared to Americans. However, when you add American healthcare costs to the equation, average Americans end up paying a higher total amount than their Canadian counterparts.
Sanders proposed a similar plan during his presidential campaign that was estimated to cost $32 trillion over 10 years and add $16 trillion to the national debt, according to the Urban Institute, an economic research and policy organization. His aides maintain his new ‘Medicare for All’ legislation would be less costly than his previous proposal, though assessing that will fall to the Congressional Budget Office.
Republicans are against the plan. Private health insurers, drug companies and Wall Street are expected to be against the plan. Democratic leaders in both the Senate and the House have also not come out in support of the plan. But most, if not all, of the strongest contenders for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination support Sanders bill, signaling that single-payer should be expected to be a central focus of that campaign.
The Democratic senators who have already signed on to co-sponsor the legislation in addition to Sens. Booker and Harris are: Elizabeth Warren (MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Brian Schatz (HI), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Jeff Merkley (OR), Ed Markey (MA), Mazie Hirono (HI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Al Franken (MN), Martin Heinrich (NM), Patrick Leahy (VT), Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Tom Udall (NM).
There is a companion bill in the House, sponsored by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), that currently has 117 co-sponsors, all Democrats.
What do you think?
Do you support ‘Medicare for All’ or do you think it’s a pie in the sky idea? Is your support affected by the amount your taxes would increase or by whatever cost estimates are issued by the Congressional Budget Office? Do you think the government should not be involved in providing health care? Will endorsement of single-payer effect your support of a presidential candidate in 2020, either for or against?
Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!
— Asha Sanaker
(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr / Creative Commons)
RELATED READING
Medicare for All or State Control: Health Care Plans Go to Extremes — New York Times
Sanders will introduce universal health care, backed by 15 Democrats — Washington Post
What would Sen. Bernie Sanders' 'Medicare-for-All' bill mean for you? — USA Today
Baldwin: Why I support Medicare for all and other efforts to expand health coverage — Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
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