HEALTHCARE/MEDICARE/OBAMACARE(ACA): “Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) unveiled his long-anticipated legislation to create a national single-payer health system on Wednesday, boasting support from 15 Democratic Senate co-sponsors.
The health proposal, dubbed Medicare for all, would offer the same suite of medical benefits required for some insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act and eliminate most out-of-pocket costs. Mr. Sanders argues that although taxes would likely rise to support the new system, families would save money by no longer needing to purchase health coverage. The government, he says, could also secure lower prices for medical services.
The 96-page bill offers no mechanisms to pay for the plan, which is expected to cost the federal government hundreds of billions of dollars a year. A spokesman for Mr. Sanders said no cost estimate for the plan was available, but Mr. Sanders plans to release a separate white paper outlining ways to fund it.
A health-care system as Mr. Sanders envisions it remains unlikely with Republicans in control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. But the idea has caught on with many Democrats since Mr. Sanders touted it on the 2016 presidential campaign trail; when he debuted a similar plan in 2013, none of his Democratic colleagues signed on.
Single-payer health care is becoming a rallying cry for many Democrats much as the seven-year promise to ‘repeal and replace’ the ACA brought together Republicans.”
-Michelle Hackman, “Bernie Sanders Unveils Single-Payer Health Legislation,” The Wall Street Journal online, Sept. 13, 2017 09:00am