Dems shy from a true Medicare for All

[question everything]

(snip)

But as this week's Democratic debates in Detroit illustrated, many of those initial cosponsors, fearful of blowback from voters — particularly those who have satisfactory private health insurance they're reluctant to give up for something unknown, as they would have to under Sanders' plan — have begun backing away.

(snip)

Health-care coverage consistently ranks as the top issue for Democrats and helped drive the party's electoral gains in 2018. But polls show that voters harbor deep concerns about the possible disruption from a policy as far-reaching as Sanders has proposed. The two-night gathering in Detroit made clear that the biggest fight in Democratic politics right now is whether the party should press ahead with remaking the health care system, which accounts for 18% of U.S. gross domestic spending, or instead pursue more limited reforms along the lines of front-runner Joe Biden's proposal to "build on Obamacare," the signature legislative achievement of President Barack Obama.

(snip)

A PBS NewsHour/Marist poll of U.S. adults conducted July 15-17 highlighted the Democrats' dilemma. It found that while 70% of respondents favor a Medicare for All option, only 41% support doing away with private health insurance. A recent tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed overall favorability for a Medicare for All system dropped to 51% in July from 56% in April. It also found that more Democrats, 55%, prefer to expand coverage by bolstering the Affordable Care Act than the 39% who believe in replacing Obamacare with a Medicare for All system.

(snip)

Harris, in particular, has struggled to stick to a clear position on Medicare for All. The California senator was the first Democrat to cosponsor Sanders' bill and raised her hand when moderators at the June debates asked which candidates would be comfortable abolishing private insurance. Harris backtracked, saying she'd misheard the question. "She violated a rule I've promulgated in politics: If you're caught in a bind and can't think of any way out of it, don't say something that no one will believe," said Barney Frank, the former Democratic representative from Massachusetts, who has not endorsed a presidential candidate for 2020. On July 29, Harris introduced her own less ambitious Medicare for All plan that also allows private insurance coverage and would be phased in over a decade.

Kate Bedingfield, a spokeswoman for former Vice President Joe Biden's campaign, assailed it as a "have-it-every-which-way approach" that would raise middle-class taxes. Biden amplified that charge during the debate by saying, "You can't beat President Trump with double-talk on this plan."


http://www.startribune.com/dems-shy-from-a-true-medicare-for-all/519296651/

[OnDoutside]

1. 41% favouring getting rid of private health care is the key number

that Democratic candidates should take particular note of. For all the lies of the GOP, they'd be salivating at the prospect of facing a Dem nominee pushing for MFA with no private health care.

[emmaverybo]

2. Whoever goes to the White House in 2020 should have her hands very full with such an extensive job

mopping up after Trump, rolling back the tax giveaway, filling positions in State dept., getting all Fed departments functional and back on mission, putting FBI on trail of domestic terrorists, undoing all Trump’s damage on all fronts, bringing Iran back to the table, and straightening out our foreign policy and relations at a time of great peril, while moving on climate change...

Why oh why, and HOW, could she implement an entirely new healthcare system which will upheave current infrastructure and bring in a massive untested and NEW infrastructure?
OH, and working on the literal crumbling infrastructure, and getting immigration reform done!

Really? Think candidates, think!

A more modest proposal is not only politically better, but far more do-able.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. I've been saying this all along....

Every President since Nixon has tried to do something with health care, and we finally got Obama care. But look what a mess the opposition made of it. And they are still trying to kill it off. Why wouldn't any of these plans suffer a similar fate?

And, all of these plans and promises are nice, but pointless-- the President does not enact legislation. The President may propose legislation, but then Congress slices and dices.

[emmaverybo]

6. Yes, "plans and promises are nice, but pointless," except I suppose to show what one aspires to,

and, I think, to provoke excitement about one’s candidacy. But, as you say, Congress will have the ultimate say.

[question everything]

9. Very well said. I hope that Biden, and others will emphasize this

(and thank you for the pronoun..

[Gothmog]

3. Banning private insurance policies polls badly

This issue would kill sanders or Warren in they are the nominee

Link to tweet

[Cha]

5. Thanks! This OP should have had 5 Recs!

[brooklynite]

7. Because, as a campaign issue, it puts the election at risk.

[Demsrule86]

8. Great post. K&R

[elocs]

10. I have not heard 1 candidate who supports MFA give a realistic explanation

of how it would be passed into law. Promises are easy, getting them passed into law another.
Because it is sure not going to happen even if the next president is a Democrat and it's holding out false hope to those who think it has a chance of passing and becoming law.