I wanted to take a moment to tell you why now is the time to move toward Medicare for All.

[Uncle Joe]

Link to tweet

[Hoyt]

1. We'll be increasing military spending, locking up trade partners in new world, losing midterms maybe

etc.

Chance of Medicare-for-All -- no matter how much it's needed -- is nil, at best.

[msongs]

2. is bernie willing to cancel his F-35 project to pay for anything? nt

[questionseverything]

4. National healthcare around the world costs less and delivers better results

It would save us money, now is the time!

[Hoyt]

7. Won't save us money according to Senator Warren. We spend about $3.5 Trillion now on healthcare.

Senator Warren, when pushed during primaries, finally admitted that MFA -- with no coinsurance or deductibles, dental benefit, etc., -- would cost over $5 Trillion a year.

That doesn't mean we should stop trying, but it does screw up the discussion "it'll cost less."

[questionseverything]

8. Every other civilized country in the world does it for less per person

Throwing in dental does change the cost big time

[Hoyt]

9. Take it up with Warren. Or explain why US nurses pay will be cut to

European levels, or certain treatments are not available because they are too expensive in relation to efficacy, or to your neighbor who works for a medical equipment company, etc.

Personally, I’m fine with doing all the above, but doubt most people are and there are few politicians with the guts to tell constituents, “your taxes will increase, but we swear you will be better off.” If it were me, I’d install MediCAID for all and watch providers run.

[questionseverything]

10. One of the problems with medicaid is it only covers generic drugs

Another is they won’t ok tests so people go untreated and die of things like cancer because it doesn’t get caught until too late

[Hoyt]

11. Ask why politicians in Vermont, Colorado, and California abandoned single payer

when they couldn’t figure out how to pay for it without tax increases.

Anything with reimbursement rates close to Medicare, likely won’t succeed. Medicaid is only hope, and you identified one of the issues with that.

If we had gone to single payer back when other countries did, we would have succeeded.

[questionseverything]

12. States can't change to single payer because they can't print money like the usa can

It’s silly to even suggest states try it

You are correct it would of been easier to do from the beginning

One huge problem is companies that provide insurance to their employees and employees don’t have to claim it as income

[Hoyt]

13. Whoa, you are now admitting we'd have to print money. Don't think that

will gain support for single payer.

I do hope something is worked out. I think those who can’t afford coverage should get it, whether through expanded Medicaid or heavier subsidized ACA.

Then, let middle-class, stick with their current coverage or buy into a Public Option. If government program is as good as we think/hope, people will gravitate to it quickly.

As we saw with COVID, too many folks are going to raise hell over a mandate, rightly or wrongly.

[questionseverything]

15. What's difference if are printing money to subsidize aca premiums

Or to actually pay for healthcare ?

We haven’t had a balanced budget since clinton

For profit healthcare costs 20-25% more than non profit hc just to account for the profit

Hopefully something gets done, even if it’s a mix of medicaid , medicare and the only true single payer in usa , which is what the military gets

[Hoyt]

16. Don't think that is going to convince anyone nowadays.

[questionseverything]

17. I wasn't trying to convince, just enjoying the discussion

[mopinko]

3. imho, a better message is- fully implement the aca.

i realize m4a is a catchy brand, but for those of us on it, it's not a great brand.

and the idea of going through the whole obamacare struggle just to start over would be a non-starter in the best of times.

take the increments. the foundation is there. also, elect more dem governors.

[questionseverything]

6. The aca is very expensive for taxpayers

My spouse and i have a plan that is heavily subsidized, to the tune of about $1900/ month

It has a $7000./per person deductible so we can’t use it anyway but still it costs a huge amount for taxpayers

All gravy for the insurance companies tho

[delisen]

5. Business interests have privatized much of Medicare . Working to destroy the remaining.

The privateers are killing us and gouging the program.

Medicare needs to be saved and enlarged at he same time.

Kaiser Permanente ,supposedly non-profit, has been building its empire while gouging Medicare and shortchanging its patients. Huge whistleblower suit against them has been joined by Dept of Justice.

These huge healthcare entities are feeding off assured profits from government spending rather than being capitalists and risking.

I am all for Government healthcare for all, but people need to know that the GOP has been gutting Medicare

[Hoyt]

14. Well, the percentage of beneficiaries who chose Advantage plans increased again

last year. It’s now 42%.

I guess all those people are stupid.

[delisen]

18. Advantage was supposed to save money. It does not. $ is going to profits & draining the program

The profiteers have armies of accountants to get their payments way above what they were supposed to get.

It has nothing to do with people being stupid. This is not a fight between regular Medicare and Medicare advantage enrollees. If we make it that we will have been divided and conquered. Benefits and services will diminish and profits will increase for healthcare corporations running the Advantage programs.

I belong to an Advantage program.Once in it is hard to return to regular Medicare because the supplemental insurance programs can charge you much more than if you had enrolled in regular Medicare at 65.

The amount of Medicare Advantage money that goes into marketing alone instead of patient services is massive. They are spending that money because each one of us is worth huge bucks to them in Medicare payments for their profit.

[Hoyt]

19. It saves $250 a month for beneficiaries who can't afford a supplement and drug plan.

Might cost the beneficiaries more in copays if they get real sick. But most people see that monthly outlay as the hurdle.

I feel certain, Biden and most Democratic candidates have the sense not to propose ending a health plan that 42% of Medicare beneficiaries think — rightly or wrongly — works better for them, especially before midterms.

[delisen]

20. I think it might be better for Medicare recipients to be subsidized on those costs

I think the supplement and drug costs should have been reduced greatly rather than start having the huge healthcare corporations involved and profiting.

I belong to an advantage program too and for the same reasons.

I had first joined Humana but left when the physicians in my area started quitting over reimbursement issues. At one point The nearest primary care physician available was 45 minutes away.

I agree with you 100% that the monthly outlay for regular Medicare drug and supplementalis to much and still is.

[Hoyt]

21. I'll take that subsidy. But won't happen. Heck, our leaders didn't even try to

do anything to reduce the $21.60 increase in Part-B premiums this year.

Think we’ve had all the “improvements” we will get for awhile.