j.r. leonard

Is there a way to say “Medicare for all is the future of American healthcare. Period. But we may not be able to get it through Congress in 2021. But you know where I believe we can get it through? The state legislature of California, of New York,” etc.

Would people accept “Senator Sanders’ plan is my Plan A for passing Medicare for All. And yes, that involves some tax increases. But if we can’t get the Senate on board with that, here’s my Plan B”? Would that work?

Why though? Seems arbitrary given the number of different universal healthcare models and it’s general unpopularity outside of leftist circles Why isn’t public option with private alternatives the future of US healthcare?

Because it’s more expensive. A French system with some role for private insurance in nonessential healthcare is possible, but single payer makes healthcare cheaper for everybody by reducing administrative waste and eventually how much providers charge for their services.

Also broadly something like a public option has underrated administrative costs. A full national health insurance system doesn’t require the whole complicated regime of subsidies that both reduces uptake and costs money to administer.

Another way of saying this is: what value do private insurance companies bring to the healthcare system? What benefit do they have that justify the billions they cost the US healthcare system?

Public option if my preference for a bunch of reasons, but I’m not really talking about my preferences here I’m saying that real single-payer is an unpopular option outside of a small percent of the population. Why is that going to change in, say, the next 10 years?

Single payer is only unpopular when you put the most unpleasant aspects of it in the question. Having parents is unpopular when you say “do you want someone to tell you what you can eat and wear?” but popular when you say “do you want someone to feed and clothe you for free?”