Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: I want Medicare for All, but for this election prefer Biden's plan [View all]Hoyt
(54,770 posts)people going into the "Medicare pool" are going to have to pay their actuarily determined costs, plus a bit extra for risk, either through premiums or taxes.
If we ignore roughly 20 million people who do not have insurance now and another 20 million or so too poor to use what the have because of large copays and deductibles, single payer should cost somewhat less than what we have now. I question how much. Go back and look at what Medicare was predicted to cost when first proposed.
But, when you throw in those 40 million uninsured and poor insured and the promises candidates are making that there will be no co-insurance or deductibles like current Medicare, and there would be dental and vision care, it is going to be more expensive than what we have now. And as soon as providers say, no we are not going to take cuts to rates from the already relatively low Medicare rates, it gets worse. Then, how do you think people are going to feel about a mandated program that is subject to political whims?
That said, to get everyone covered, it might be worth all that. But, I feel relatively sure when what people making $50K to $80K a year are going to have to pay for this care is provided, trump will win in a landslide, OR if that comes out early enough, a Democrat who is not pushing mandatory M4A is going to win the nomination and maybe have a chance to beat trump.
I do not believe enough people are ready to give up their employer insurance -- where they pay very little in most cases -- when someone finally has the guts to say exactly what the average Joe/Jane is going to have to pay for M4A in premiums or taxes. It may be the same as being paid in the aggregate now, but most people don't see what the employer pays.
I'm on Medicare and would have loved to have been on it all these years, but I don't think most people see it that way. Heck, lately I have been surprised at the number of people indicating they are concerned that M4A is going to negatively impact their Medicare. I don't really share that concern, especially when Democrats are in office, but I understand why some are concerned.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden