General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Bernie Sanders supported the ACA. His support was crucial. [View all]karynnj
(59,501 posts)The problem on the state level is that they need to work within the framework of the federal level and a system where many people currently have employer paid or subsidized insurance.
In the other industrialized countries, they did not start with a system where over half the people had insurance from their employer, who then could deduct the insurance payments from their profit meaning the government subsiized it. They created plans that were paid for by taxes. LBJ created Medicare for seniors as they did not have employer health care and created a pay roll tax which people would pay in their working years to pay for it. No one argued then for Medicare for all as the majority of workers had employer paid insurance.
I know Vermont had to work out things like how to treat people who already had as a benefit health insurance from their employer or former employer who might not be in Vermont.