Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Which do you Favor and Why: Medicare for All or ACA expansion? [View all]Algernon Moncrieff
(5,790 posts)Americans want medical coverage; they want it as cheaply as they can get it, but they also have very different needs/wants/preferences. Some love and trust a specific family doctor for all but the most specialized needs. Others have no use for Internal Medicine/Family Practice types and want to head straight to specialists. Others don't care who they see, and will happily see ARNPs or PAs at big multispecialty practices - they just want to be seen right away. Rural patients are thrilled if they don't have to drive 2 hours + to be seen by anyone. So I say expand the ACA. Every American is part of a group and can get group rates, and select coverage options that suit their preferences and budget.
MFA should serve as a public option for those who cannot get coverage in the private markets - particularly those between 50 and Medicare age. There should be a buy-in.
Unlike most DUers, I do not see the insurance industry as the villain. There are plenty of dastardly deeds being performed by medical practices, hospitals, pharma, DME retailers, and third-party administrators. There is a need for supervision and audit at every level of the system.
I'll also point out the obvious: having the government running healthcare for all represents an additional huge sacrifice of privacy to government authority. I get that we sacrifice the same privacy to a number of private actors now, but having that level of personal knowledge entrusted to the State rightly troubles some people.
At the end of the day, any plan that reduces or eliminates unpaid medical debt and allows all Americans to get treatment is a good thing.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided