Is Medicare for All the Cure-all?
“Our current dysfunctional health care system is designed to make huge profits for insurance companies and drug companies, rather than provide quality care for every man, woman and child,” says Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The solution, he claims, is his much-touted Medicare for All Act of 2019, introduced in April with the support of 14 cosponsors. In his press release announcing the legislation, he asserts that it “would ensure that Americans could go to the doctor of their choice and get the care they need, when they need it, without going into debt.” Sanders goes on to declare that Medicare for All will give Americans the kind of nationalized healthcare that “every other major country on earth” guarantees its citizens, and that it will save money while guaranteeing the “right” of healthcare for every man, woman, and child in this country.
Sounds great — everyone getting what they need for free — so why doesn’t universal healthcare have universal support? Is there a downside? Under Sanders’ plan, will healthcare that today costs too much and delivers too little, suddenly cost less, cover everyone, and provide more generous benefits?
Critics are quick to point at the price tag. Independent studies expose massive costs of Medicare for All, be it Sanders’ bill or U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal’s House version: at least $32 trillion in its first decade, and as high as $60 trillion by some estimates. How do you put amounts such as these in perspective? Consider that our national debt which we can’t afford is pushing $23 trillion, exceeding our annual GDP by around $3 trillion. Here’s another disquieting thought: Annual federal tax revenues are roughly equal to conservative estimates of Medicare for All yearly costs.
JBS Member or ShopJBS.org Customer?
Sign in with your ShopJBS.org account username and password or use that login to subscribe.
Subscribe Now
- 24 Issues Per Year
- Digital Edition Access
- Exclusive Subscriber Content
- Audio provided for all articles
- Unlimited access to past issues
- Cancel anytime.
- Renews automatically
Subscribe Now
- 24 Issues Per Year
- Print edition delivery (USA)
*Available Outside USA - Digital Edition Access
- Exclusive Subscriber Content
- Audio provided for all articles
- Unlimited access to past issues
- Cancel anytime.
- Renews automatically