Unlike Lake Wobegon, Medicare for All isn't "above average" for everyone...

[brooklynite]

....but Culinary's health care is. And they chose to sacrifice salary and other benefits to get it.

Whatever MfA would end up being, there would be a baseline of coverage that would be provided to everyone. If Culinary's coverage is better than that, why would they want to give that up?

Example: my wife's private health care included membership to a provider (ONE MEDICAL) that basically committed to providing safe day appointments. (an extra $200 a year per employee out of the company's pocket). Would MfA cover that? Probably not. If Culinary's contract included a similar arrangement, what would be their incentive to give it up?

[DanTex]

1. "Above average" refers to the current "average".

The whole point of M4A is for everyone to get quality coverage, not just people who have "above average" plans. So, sure, after M4A, the culinary healthcare would no longer be "above average", but that's because "average" would no longer mean "crappy."

[squirecam]

2. They aren't buying it.

“We went on strike to protect our health care, health care I need for my family,” Munoz said. “We love our culinary health care. We want to keep it. We don’t want to change it. Why would you change it?”

https://www.courthousenews.com/sanders-faces-grilling-on-health-care-in-vegas-union-town-hall/


https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/amy-klobuchar-well-received-at-culinary-union-forum-1933508/


U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar returned to Las Vegas Saturday for the latest round of Culinary Union Local 226 presidential candidate forums, where she mixed moderate proposals and attacks on President Donald Trump with jokes and personal stories during her 40-minute question-and-answer session. The Minnesota senator was well-received by a crowded union hall assembled on a Saturday morning.

The town hall was part of a series hosted by the powerful union and its parent organization, UNITE HERE. Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg hit the stage after Klobuchar.

— Health care the top issue As with previous town halls, the culinary union laid down a marker on health care: Its members fought to get the best benefits in the state, and they want to keep them.

Klobuchar, who has opposed Medicare for All in the Senate and on the campaign trail, breezed through the question by promising exactly that. She shared an anecdote about needing to build bridges, not blow them up, to get across Minnesota’s many lakes.

“We do not want to take those benefits away,” she said. “We do not want to blow those up. And that’s why I believe in a public option and expanding on the Affordable Care Act.”

[BlueIdaho]

3. There is no incentive to give up a superior plan.

But then the chances of MfA becoming the law of the land are about zero. Even if we take over the Senate, maintain the House, and capture the Presidency - there will not be enough votes to gut the present system and start over from scratch. Not all elected Democrats are in love with the idea.

I think a public option is a better road. If it’s truly better - people will flock to it. Well, most people anyway. Those who have collectively bargained for something better ain’t gonna walk away from that plan unless they see a genuine advantage.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. If M4A turns out to be anything like current Medicare, that "average" coverage

won't be nearly as good as Culinary's. Medicare is a hell of a lot better than the alternative but it doesn't cover anywhere near everything, and you do pay a monthly premium for Part B. If you want comprehensive coverage you have to buy supplemental insurance. If M4A ever happens (which I doubt), I expect there will still be a private market for that as well.

[Demsrule86]

6. I think Medicare sucks...became very familiar with it as my sis in law broke her leg in

four places and is in a home...with a decent plan that covered rehab better, she might get better but she won't with what medicare offers...we can't put private people in the home (liability) and the home won't do it as Medicare won't pay... her wrap pays only for what medicare pays...medicare sucks no other way to put it. And I found out if you go with an advantage plan should you wish to come back to Medicare, you are subject to pre-existing conditions. It is also expensive and you still need a wrap. Between coverage for hubs and me and higer taxes,we will pay a fortune. I don't believe we will not have deductibles or co-pays. And there will be a basic coverage and a better coverage for those who can pay...mark my words. And the ACA will be destroyed in the attempt to get this sub par plan.

[TwilightZone]

5. "Whatever MfA would end up being"

That's part of the problem. Proponents of M4A are trying to sell people on a concept that doesn't have a lot of details (yet) and will be unrecognizable once (if) it gets through Congress vs. the real-world health care and insurance that they already have. That they can see. That they use. That they fought for.

It shouldn't be surprising that there's some resistance. Improving the existing system is a much easier sell because it starts with a tangible product.

[jr1118x]

7. Until get money out of politics....

As long as we allow companies and legal bribery we have too many politicians on both sides who will choose their pockets over their people.