The Key to Selling Medicare for All to Voters Is Simple

[MineralMan]

31. Something certainly can work, whatever it is called.

As soon as we can elect strong majorities in Congress and a Democratic President, a plan for some kind of universal healthcare, probably government administered will emerge and be implemented. Until then, no plan will.

Building support for such a plan is the thing that will put it over the top, once we have a government that will enact it. Most people have no idea how such a plan will affect them and their paychecks. That's something we can begin to address now, simply and understandably.

The "tax" word is poisonous, since a majority of people will see that as meaning less money in their pockets. We also have to make it clear what they WON'T be paying out of their paychecks. They already know that their employer is paying part of the cost of their healthcare insurance. The employer will also be paying part of any new plan.

People in the individual health insurance market know what they're paying for insurance. They'd like to pay less. Show them that they will pay less in the new plan.

Poor people can't afford to pay. Show them that they'll be covered anyhow.

People already on Medicare and Medicaid will worry that they'll have to pay more. Show them that they will not.

And, yes, include vision, dental, and low pharmaceutical costs as well. Tell them about that, which they don't necessarily have now.

We need to sell the concept, whatever actual plan is proposed and adopted. Bernie Sanders' plan is not going to become the actual plan. It can't pass anything and won't be adopted. When something can be passed, a new plan will be designed, not by one Senator, but by Congress, after hearings, meetings, committees and much much more.

Right now, we can work with a Medicare for All concept that is not completely defined. We can sell the concept. The rest will come when it can actually happen, which is not right now.