The US has had "Medicare for some" since 1965.

[yellowdogintexas]

66. I have been saying this since the 1970s

I was a claims analyst for the State Part B Medicare carrier and it was clear to me that everybody should at least be able to get it if they wanted it.

This of course was way before gigantic deductibles and premiums. Back then medical insurance was not the high profit enterprise it is now and deductibles were very reasonable

I totally agree that it should be phased in. Let's not overwhelm SSA which determines eligibility and tracks the deductible for part B etc.

Medicare has the lowest cost per claim, fastest turnaround time, lowest error ratio and highest satisfaction. No money is spent on advertising or obscenely high CEO and upper management salaries and perks. Medicare does not make a huge profit; the budget has enough overhead to allow for rent, raises for employees, office supplies etc.

You are quite right that including younger and healthier people in the plan will definitely expand the pool. If only very ill people are covered, then costs will escalate and the Republicans will get what they want: a plan that is underwater and a failure so they can get rid of it.

I'd like to see the plan modified some if this happens, with things like a maximum out of pocket per year, which most commercial employer plans have. It would be nice if dental and vision could be added. As it stands now a vision claim is only covered for medical causes; injury, infections, glaucoma, cataracts etc. SOme dental is covered if due to an injury, or having to have one's teeth extracted before radiation therapy to the head. (that's a real thing, if you have metal fillings or crowns)

Big Insurance and Big Pharma are the spawn of the devil.