Beto O'Rourke vs. Bernie Sanders sets up a debate about Medicare-for-all vs. "Medicare for America"

[pnwmom]

O'Rourke's plan makes sense and I think is more do-able than an instant switch to single-payer. It recognizes that many Americans are happy with their employer-based insurance and are uneasy with the idea of switching to a government based plan. O'Rourke's plan would give Medicare for America a chance to prove itself, rather than quickly forcing it on all Americans.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/18/18270857/medicare-for-all-beto-orourke-2020-policies-voxcare


In his early days as a presidential candidate, Beto O’Rourke has walked away from supporting single-payer Medicare-for-all and into the arms of another health care plan: Medicare for America.

That plan, introduced last year by Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), was founded on the previous work of the Center for American Progress and Yale professor Jacob Hacker. It is the Democratic establishment’s alternative to the single-payer approach favored by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the democratic socialist left.

It would not move every American into a government health care plan over the next few years, as the Medicare-for-all bill authored by Sanders would. Employer-based insurance, which covers half of all Americans, would be preserved, though workers would have the option of leaving their work plan to join the new Medicare program. Over a long enough timeline, however, Medicare for America would likely cover most and maybe all Americans under a single government plan. The uninsured and people on Medicaid or Obamacare would be moved into the new public coverage right away, and newborns would be enrolled automatically in the plan as well.

O’Rourke has quickly become the bill’s most prominent proponent, citing it on the campaign trail as the best path to universal coverage despite his earlier support for single-payer health care. He is selling it as the more politically palatable solution. From the Texas Tribune:

“It responds to the fact that so many Americans have said, ‘I like my employer-based insurance. I want to keep it. I like the network I’m in. I like the doctor that I see,’” O’Rourke said. “It complements what already exists with the need that we have for millions of Americans who do not have insurance and ensures that each of them can enroll in Medicare. It then suggests additional investments in that program so it becomes the program of choice and people who have private insurance migrate over to the Medicare system.”

SNIP

[elleng]

1. I think we should wait to hear EVERYONE's suggestions for 'universal health care'

until much later, confirm that our candidate wants it and is not wedded to any particular 'name,' and will work and agree to compromise with whomever has the authority to finalize it.

[Blue_true]

2. Beto and Mayor Pete Buttigieg have similar ideas.

The Mayor's plan is to offer Medicare as an option on the ACA beside private plans. People would get to chose which is best for them. Likely over time, Medicare would force down healthcare costs and force private insurers to offer more for premiums paid, for all intents, over time everything will gravitate to one low premium, high coverage plan, essential single payer in all but name and operation.