• Sen. Sanders unveils Universal Healthcare bill
    105 replies, posted
[url]https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/13/bernie-sanders-universal-healthcare-medicare-for-all[/url] [quote]Sanders has no illusions about the bill’s fate in a Republican-controlled Congress, where it has little chance of passing. But he says the time has arrived to have a debate he believes is fundamental: is healthcare a right or a privilege in America? Sanders will formally unveil the bill at a press conference on Wednesday, with the backing of nearly a third of the Democratic caucus in the Senate – a record level of support for a bill he introduced just four years ago with only one signature, his own. The Sanders plan would radically reform the American healthcare system, transitioning it over the course of four years to a federally administered insurance program. The new system would be underwritten by an increase in taxes.[/quote] [quote]During the first year of the program, the eligibility age for the Medicare program would drop to 55, and all Americans under 18 would be added to the program. The eligibility age would gradually decrease until the fourth year, when everyone would receive a “universal Medicare card”. Sanders said of the plan: “You’re going to the same private doctor that you went to. You’re going to go to the same hospital that you went to. The only difference is instead of having a Blue Cross Blue Shield [insurance] card – and having to argue with your insurance company – you’re going to have a Medicare For All card. That’s it.”[/quote] If I understood the article he's going to bring it to the floor this afternoon.
It'll be interesting to see who votes against this and what it does to their careers.
I don't see why an optional government funded basic health insurance plan wouldn't work. For all those people who prefer private insurance, they have the option of opting out and saving the government some money.
[QUOTE=AnnieOakley;52677454]It'll be interesting to see who votes against this and what it does to their careers.[/QUOTE] It won't come up for a vote in the GOP-controlled Senate [editline]13th September 2017[/editline] That said, it's incresingly looking like support for singlepayer will be a minimum requirement for the 2020 Dem nominee
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;52677456]I don't see why an optional government funded basic health insurance plan wouldn't work. For all those people who prefer private insurance, they have the option of opting out and saving the government some money.[/QUOTE] Usual explanation is summed up as this method not providing enough funding to cover all that are on it. Gov't funded healthcare needs a pretty wide tax base to be viable, from what I've read. In a country with 300+ Million people that only gets more true.
[QUOTE=evilweazel;52677479]Usual explanation is summed up as this method not providing enough funding to cover all that are on it. Gov't funded healthcare needs a pretty wide tax base to be viable, from what I've read. In a country with 300+ Million people that only gets more true.[/QUOTE] Considering we still budget more annually than any other country on the [I]planet[/I] to healthcare, there is no financial reason why this can't work. Re-allocate what is being used. I will [I]gladly[/I] pay the tax to support it, it just needs to fucking happen.
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;52677456]I don't see why an optional government funded basic health insurance plan wouldn't work. For all those people who prefer private insurance, they have the option of opting out and saving the government some money.[/QUOTE] Because it would bankrupt insurance companies slowly as everyone realises the government plan is cheaper and similiar if not better standard for money. It's purely about profits for middle-men.
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;52677456]I don't see why an optional government funded basic health insurance plan wouldn't work. For all those people who prefer private insurance, they have the option of opting out and saving the government some money.[/QUOTE] Won't work if the taxes used to fund this would be opt-out for those with other options.
With the GOP looking to axe the ACA, I doubt this will even get to the debate floor. I don't see what the point is to introducing this, even "if it's just to talk about it".
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;52677500]With the GOP looking to axe the ACA, I doubt this will even get to the debate floor. I don't see what the point is to introducing this, even "if it's just to talk about it".[/QUOTE] The more discussion about it the more likely it is to end up on the majority of dem. platforms in 2020, I'd reckon.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;52677500]With the GOP looking to axe the ACA, I doubt this will even get to the debate floor. I don't see what the point is to introducing this, even "if it's just to talk about it".[/QUOTE] The same reason major movevents like MLK fighting for the then-unpopular idea of civil rights, it gets the ball rolling and someone has to start fighting for the right things in this fucked up system.
[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;52677482]Considering we still budget more annually than any other country on the [I]planet[/I] to healthcare, there is no financial reason why this can't work. Re-allocate what is being used. I will [I]gladly[/I] pay the tax to support it, it just needs to fucking happen.[/QUOTE] I'm just saying that's the reason people are usually for a universal healthcare system in earnest as opposed to an opt in/out system.
[QUOTE=evilweazel;52677509]The more discussion about it the more likely it is to end up on the majority of dem. platforms in 2020, I'd reckon.[/QUOTE] Party platforms are pointless. The party does not hold any of their members to stick to its list of ideals. This goes true for both parties.
[QUOTE=Im Crimson;52677491]Won't work if the taxes used to fund this would be opt-out for those with other options.[/QUOTE] I'm sure ripping funding out of bullshit agencies that only serve to erode our civil liberties while giving us nothing in retuen would significantly help. TSA, NSA are two big ones I'd love to see mugged to pay for singlepayer healthcare.
[QUOTE=S31-Syntax;52677482]Considering we still budget more annually than any other country on the [I]planet[/I] to healthcare, there is no financial reason why this can't work. Re-allocate what is being used. I will [I]gladly[/I] pay the tax to support it, it just needs to fucking happen.[/QUOTE] I live in one of the States with the lowest tax rate in the country and the amount of "No new taxes!" signs I'm seeing regarding raising taxes to fix our shitty roads leads me to believe a ridiculous amount of people don't actually understand what taxes do and just think it's "taking away their money"
here in ausland we have the ability to get private health insurance, but also having a single-payer healthcare system too, so the private health insurance option IS THERE, but if you're poor (or don't care for more health insurance), no worries, we gotchya covered! seems like a great system that works for both people who want better healthcare than what the government offers, and people who have no money
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;52677456]I don't see why an optional government funded basic health insurance plan wouldn't work. For all those people who prefer private insurance, they have the option of opting out and saving the government some money.[/QUOTE] But then all the richer people take private insurances instead and public healthcare end up underfunded because only poor people support poor people.
Is there any country which actually straight up bans private healthcare?
[QUOTE=Bob The Knob;52677751]Is there any country which actually straight up bans private healthcare?[/QUOTE] Probably not, but many countries tax people the same regardless of whether they subscribe to private healthcare or not. Opting out of public healthcare isn't exactly an option.
bernie wins again
[QUOTE=Bob The Knob;52677751]Is there any country which actually straight up bans private healthcare?[/QUOTE] north korea and cuba I guess but cuba has pretty decent public healthcare considering their economy anyway
[QUOTE=Thom12255;52677484]Because it would bankrupt insurance companies slowly as everyone realises the government plan is cheaper and similiar if not better standard for money. It's purely about profits for middle-men.[/QUOTE] And not a single tear will be shed. Legalized extortion is just that.
A system in which you can choose between private and public does not seem like a good idea. Solidarity is needed in a universal healthcare system to make it cheaper for [I]everyone[/I]. [editline]13th September 2017[/editline] if you pay for the public system either way it won't be a problem however obv
[QUOTE=evilweazel;52677479]Usual explanation is summed up as this method not providing enough funding to cover all that are on it. Gov't funded healthcare needs a pretty wide tax base to be viable, from what I've read. In a country with 300+ Million people that only gets more true.[/QUOTE] I'd happily pay more Medicare tax out of my paycheck for universal healthcare instead of $200-400/month for insurance that will fight to fuck me over
[QUOTE=ultra_bright;52677456]I don't see why an optional government funded basic health insurance plan wouldn't work. For all those people who prefer private insurance, they have the option of opting out and saving the government some money.[/QUOTE] republicans are all for more choices until one of the choices is government. [editline]13th September 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=zupadupazupadude;52678046]A system in which you can choose between private and public does not seem like a good idea. Solidarity is needed in a universal healthcare system to make it cheaper for [I]everyone[/I]. [editline]13th September 2017[/editline] if you pay for the public system either way it won't be a problem however obv[/QUOTE] we already have this in the US. Most people on medicare take out supplimental insurance that is a few steps above basic medicare, like elderly care, ect ect. private insurance in the US would go that way with a medicare for all plan, and actually the cost would come down because private insurance wouldn't need to cover some things then. or we do an all or nothing model like social security where you either are on medicare as insurance and you pay more, or you aren't and you still pay your regular medicare taxes
Here's the role private insurance has in a universal health care system, because it's how it works in Canada: Private insurance is [I]supplemental[/I] benefits that cover what the government does not. For example, I do not have private insurance right now. If I go to a hospital, I don't have to pay a cent for the doctors, injections, IVs, surgeries, or any other aspect of my care. But I do have to pay if I want a private or semi-private room. I do have to pay for my prescrptions. I have to pay for eye care. I have to pay for dental. I never got braces because my parents couldn't afford it or didn't think it was important and now my teeth are all fucked up and several are turned almost sideways, because we didn't have private insurance. Private coverage can cover all of these things, over and above the basic costs of an ER visit.
[QUOTE=AnnieOakley;52677454]It'll be interesting to see who votes against this and what it does to their careers.[/QUOTE] Who will vote against it? Everyone. What will it do to their careers? Nothing.
[QUOTE=Cyke Lon bee;52678260]Who will vote against it? Everyone. What will it do to their careers? Nothing.[/QUOTE] Uhh? In the past couple days alone a dozen senators have cosponsored Bernie's bill because of the mounting public pressure. They realize their seats are in jeopardy if they don't do it. Any Democrat savvy enough to feel the pulse of the American people will vote for it if they want to have any shot at their continuing political career. Considering there's no chance it passes a Republican legislature it's free brownie points for the Democrats. [editline]13th September 2017[/editline] [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;52677500]With the GOP looking to axe the ACA, I doubt this will even get to the debate floor. I don't see what the point is to introducing this, even "if it's just to talk about it".[/QUOTE] This is a really twisted perspective, man. Universal healthcare is polling at 60% approval and you're saying our politicians [i]shouldn't[/i] be pushing for it?
God. If you can make one good thing happen for this year, let it be this. Cmon, Sanders.
does it include dental because that and you know... everything that exists is yet another thing republican plans don't have
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