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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 23 February 2019
Many shades of meaning behind ‘Medicare-for-all’

By RICARDO ALONSO- coverage for all.
ZALDIVAR __
Associated Press MEDICARE BUY-IN
WASHINGTON (AP) — Several Democratic law-
“Medicare-for-all” can makers have unveiled
mean different things to plans that would let older
different people. adults buy into Medicare.
For some, it’s a single gov- The idea would build on
ernment-run health insur- the Obama-era Affordable
ance plan for the whole Care Act because ACA
country. To others, it’s giv- subsidies would be avail-
ing consumers a choice to able to help pay premiums
buy into Medicare or keep for those who qualify.
their private insurance. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio,
But whatever the form, the who is weighing a presi-
proposals are built on the dential campaign, has pro-
premise that health insur- posed giving people be-
ance should be a guaran- tween the ages of 50 and
teed right. 64 the option of buying into
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Ver- Medicare. His “Medicare
mont independent seek- at 50” bill was co-authored
ing the 2020 Democratic by Sens. Debbie Stabenow,
presidential nomination, D-Mich., and Tammy Bald-
launched the debate over This Feb. 2, 2015, file photo, depicts a part of a U.S. $100 bill. A new government report estimates win, D-Wis.
“Medicare-for-all.” Now, that government will be paying nearly half the nation’s health care tab within 10 years. While that’s not “Medi-
other Democratic presi- Associated Press care-for-all,” it would pro-
dential hopefuls are stak- icaid Services projects that Enacted more than 50 would replace private vide a backstop for a de-
ing out their positions on federal, state and local years ago to cover people health insurance, including mographic group whose
the concept, which Presi- governments will be pay- age 65 and older, Medi- employer-sponsored plans members can suddenly
dent Donald Trump decries ing nearly half the nation’s care remains the govern- that insure about 160 mil- find themselves uninsured
as socialism. health care tab by 2027. ment’s flagship health lion people. due to layoffs, plant clos-
But government-backed A primer on Medicare and care program. About 60 Benefits for seniors would ings, or involuntary retire-
insurance is already part Medicare-inspired plans million are enrolled, includ- be improved beyond what ment.
of daily life, covering more that have become a cen- ing some 9 million disabled Medicare now offers, with Presidential hopefuls Book-
than 130 million Americans. tral focus for Democrats: people. coverage for dental, vi- er, Gillibrand, Harris, are co-
A new report from the Cen- __ Benefits include coverage sion and hearing aids. The sponsors. So is Merkley. And
ters for Medicare and Med- TRADITIONAL MEDICARE for hospitalization, doctors’ House bill includes a new the list includes Sen. Amy
services, prescription drugs, long-term care program. Klobuchar, D-Minn., who’s
tests and imaging, rehab, Patients would not have running for the Democratic
medical equipment, and to pay premiums or de- nomination and is not a co-
hospice. ductibles, and cost-sharing sponsor of the Sanders bill.
But Medicare does not would be eliminated or __
cover long-term care, rou- greatly reduced. But taxes MEDICARE PUBLIC OPTION
tine dental care, hearing would go up significantly. Legislation from Merkley
aids or eyeglasses. Costs would be limited would allow people of any
Medicare has significant through government-set age to buy into a new pub-
copayments, and many payment rates across the lic plan modeled on Medi-
beneficiaries purchase health care system. care. Employers would
supplemental private in- Neither proposal has a cost have the option of offering
surance to protect against analysis from the Congres- it to workers. Financial assis-
costs. sional Budget Office, but tance with premiums would
With baby boomers aging several independent stud- be available through the
into Medicare, taxes are ies have estimated that Affordable Care Act.
not enough to cover future government spending on The “Choose Medicare” bill
costs. In just seven years — health care would increase echoes an earlier “public
2026— it’s projected that dramatically, in the range option” proposal for gov-
the program’s giant trust of about $25 trillion to $35 ernment-run insurance to
fund for inpatient care trillion or more over a 10- compete with private cov-
won’t have enough to cov- year period. erage, which Democrats
er medical bills due. Democratic presidential ultimately backed away
__ hopefuls Sens. Cory Booker from during the Obama
‘MEDICARE-FOR-ALL’ of New Jersey, Kirsten Gilli- years after strong industry
Two bills, one by Sanders brand of New York, Kama- opposition.
and another from House la Harris of California, and The plan would also im-
Democrats, would set up Elizabeth Warren of Mas- prove benefits under tradi-
a government-run health sachusetts are co-sponsors tional Medicare, setting a
insurance plan for the en- of the Sanders’ plan. So is limit on seniors’ cost-shar-
tire country. It’s also called Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, ing. And it would autho-
“single-payer” because a who is considering a run. rize Medicare to negotiate
federal agency would pay Some co-sponsors also sup- drug prices.
the bills. Or just “M4A.” port less ambitious propos- Sens. Booker, Gillibrand and
Government coverage als to advance the goal of Harris are co-sponsors.q