Tammy Baldwin attempts to put single-payer health care price tag into context

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Tammy Baldwin attempts to put single-payer health care price tag into context


https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/tammy-baldwin-attempts-to-put-single-payer-health-care-price/article_a3f59641-ba90-55a7-b19a-c4bdde281905.html

By Lisa Speckhard Pasque 13 hrs ago



Sen. Tammy Baldwin has supported Sen. Bernie Sanders' “Medicare for All” plan and single-payer health care. But just last week, a study by a libertarian policy center at George Mason University showed that such a plan could cost an additional $32.6 trillion over 10 years.

Appearing Sunday on the “UpFront with Mike Gousha” television talk show, Baldwin attempted to put those costs into context.

“We’re paying a lot more now ... it’s just divided into so many pots, it’s so complex,” she said, saying that under the current system, “people are paying for prescription drugs that is driving them bankrupt even if they have health insurance.”

Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat who faces reelection this fall, brought up an example of a woman who couldn’t afford to pay $90,000 a year for multiple sclerosis medication while on Medicare.

“She and her husband had the conversation you never, ever want to have, and they decided she is going to stop taking her medicine," Baldwin said.

She admitted that a single-payer health care system would mean significant tax increases, but said it would also mean no more premiums.

“Prior to the Affordable Care Act, half of all U.S. bankruptcies had a health-care related cause. That’s a system that is broken,” she said.......................................................




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George Shalabi of Prairie du Sac greets United States Senator Tammy Baldwin July 5 at the Blue Spoon in Prairie du Sac.
Autumn Luedke/Sauk Prairie Eagle