Robert Reich Facebook post:
22 hrs ·
Today, Bernie Sanders will be unveiling the details of his single-payer healthcare plan. I've seen it, and it's a huge advance over what we have now. The Affordable Care Act is an important first step towards the goal of universal health care -- insuring more than 17 million Americans who had lacked health insurance. But 29 million Americans still lack health insurance, and millions more can’t afford to see a doctor because of high co-payments and deductibles. And the nation continues to spend a higher percent of our total economy on health care than any other advanced nation while getting the worst health outcomes. We must move to a universal single-payer system, as in almost every other advanced nation.
Bernie’s plan isn't nearly as radical as it will be portrayed. It builds on the strengths of Medicare. Like Medicare, it's universal -- separating health insurance from employment, and enabling people to choose a health care provider without worrying about whether that provider is in-network: All they’d need do is go to the doctor and show their insurance card. No more copays, no more deductibles and no more fighting with insurance companies when they fail to pay for charges.
Through a single national insurance system, we’ll no longer be paying for the marketing and advertising of private for-profit health insurers, nor their giant executive salaries, or their complex billing systems. Government will negotiate fair prices with drug companies, hospitals, and medical suppliers.
I’ve looked at the savings and the costs in Bernie’s plan, and it will work. The United States currently spends $3 trillion a year on health care —nearly $10,000 per person. Bernie’s plan will save American families and businesses over $6 trillion over the next decade. The typical middle-class family will save over $5,000 a year; the typical business will save over $10,000 a year. The costs for families and businesses will be far less than these savings.
Take a look at the plan when it's released later today and let me know what you think.
--------------------------
Healthcare is a matter of LIFE AND DEATH. It's hard to believe there's people on this forum advocating against MEDICARE FOR ALL.
= new reply since forum marked as read