1 - Common Sense
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Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
This is Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan for every American
The US Democratic presidential candidate unveiled his universal healthcare plan a couple of hours before the last Democratic debate last night (Jan. 17). Sanders praised Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act but he noted there are still 29 million Americans without health insurance. He calls for a system “that works not just for millionaires and billionaires, but for all of us.” So what is his alternative?Sanders wants to create a federally administered single-payer healthcare program—already used in a number of countries such as Canada—where the government insures everyone for their healthcare needs and pays the bills through taxes. The US already has a single-payer system, called Medicare, which has been in place since 1966 and takes care of Americans over 65.
Universal healthcare would be funded through taxes—and would no longer be optional. US citizens would pay a 2.2% income-based premium towards their healthcare, while employers would pay an additional 6.2% of what it pays employees towards the plan.
Further progressive and wealth taxes—such as paying between 37% on income above $250,000 and 52% on income above $10 million, various capital-gains taxes, ended tax exemptions, and inheritance taxes—would fund the scheme, which costs $1.38 trillion per year.
Last year, the “average working family” paid $4,955 in premiums and $1,318 in deductibles to private health-insurance companies, the Sanders campaign said. Under his plan, a family of four earning $50,000 would pay $466 per year into the single-payer system.
Sanders claims the plan will result in an overall savings of $6 trillion over the next 10 years, when compared to the current system.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident,” former vice president Biden said during a campaign event in Texas on Monday. "All men and women created by — you know, you know, the thing.”
- Just Fred
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
I'm with Bernie on this.
- TheLagerLad
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
Admirable idea but we need to see how it plays out through independent scoring and the inevitable blowback from the other side.
One very good point Lester Holt made yesterday that Bernie didn't have an answer for was that Vermont tried universal health care and had to scrap the idea because the governor, universal coverage's biggest champion, had to admit he couldn't figure out how to pay for it. Here's a good article to read.
But I'm all ears if Bernie can sell the American people on his idea.
I think you're going to see a lot of different United States of America over the next three, four, or eight years. - President Donald J. Trump
- tennyson
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
TheLagerLad wrote:
Admirable idea but we need to see how it plays out through independent scoring and the inevitable blowback from the other side.
One very good point Lester Holt made yesterday that Bernie didn't have an answer for was that Vermont tried universal health care and had to scrap the idea because the governor, universal coverage's biggest champion, had to admit he couldn't figure out how to pay for it. Here's a good article to read.
But I'm all ears if Bernie can sell the American people on his idea.
Agreed.
My understanding is that the employer % would replace the current amount they pay so that at least would be a softening of the blow for them and perhaps for some employers could be less (although the higher the pay of the employees, the heftier the bill to the company so it is a little hard to tell). Will be interesting to see how the current people on Medicare fare in terms of what they have to pay. Looks potentially like it could be LESS which would appeal to seniors (remembering that there is an automatic $104/MO built in to help pay for medicare that comes normally out of your Social Security in addition to any amount you pay for optional supplemental insurance). It WILL be interesting to see how all the details pan out when scrutinized and scored. It may not be as hard of a sell as it first seems (aside from the normal political blow-back from one side or another, that is)
Last edited by tennyson (1/18/2016 1:34 pm)
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
Last year, the “average working family” paid $4,955 in premiums and $1,318 in deductibles to private health-insurance companies, the Sanders campaign said. Under his plan, a family of four earning $50,000 would pay $466 per year into the single-payer system.
Sanders claims the plan will result in an overall savings of $6 trillion over the next 10 years, when compared to the current system.
I'm sorry Bernie, but that's magical thinking.
The average family is going to see their health insurance expenses fall to about 8 % of what they are right now?
Yea, and it will never rain on the weekend again, no one will ever die and bottles of prosecco will fly out of my dog's butt!
We live in a time in which decent and otherwise sensible people are surrendering too easily to the hectoring of morons or extremists.
- Just Fred
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
Solution: Give Americans the option of buying into the medicare system if they choose to do so. Everybody's happy, although the for-profit health insurers might not be to excited about it.
- TheLagerLad
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
Last year, the “average working family” paid $4,955 in premiums and $1,318 in deductibles to private health-insurance companies, the Sanders campaign said. Under his plan, a family of four earning $50,000 would pay $466 per year into the single-payer system.
Sanders claims the plan will result in an overall savings of $6 trillion over the next 10 years, when compared to the current system.
I'm sorry Bernie, but that's magical thinking.
The average family is going to see their health insurance expenses fall to about 8 % of what they are right now?
Yea, and it will never rain on the weekend again, no one will ever die and bottles of prosecco will fly out of my dog's butt!
I think Bernie's numbers could work when you look at the taxes he's proposing. The Medicare for all proposition would be paid for by the wealthy and upper middle class.
Now to Bernie's credit, this will be politically unpopular in many circles. But he's moving forward with it. We'll have to see if it works in the early voting states.
I think you're going to see a lot of different United States of America over the next three, four, or eight years. - President Donald J. Trump
- The Man
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
Last year, the “average working family” paid $4,955 in premiums and $1,318 in deductibles to private health-insurance companies, the Sanders campaign said. Under his plan, a family of four earning $50,000 would pay $466 per year into the single-payer system.
Sanders claims the plan will result in an overall savings of $6 trillion over the next 10 years, when compared to the current system.
I'm sorry Bernie, but that's magical thinking.
The average family is going to see their health insurance expenses fall to about 8 % of what they are right now?
Yea, and it will never rain on the weekend again, no one will ever die and bottles of prosecco will fly out of my dog's butt!
I agree. I like Bernie Sanders on a personal level, but I cannot understand where he comes up with his pie in the sky math? He can't really think people buy that... Oh wait.
- The Man
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
Last year, the “average working family” paid $4,955 in premiums and $1,318 in deductibles to private health-insurance companies, the Sanders campaign said. Under his plan, a family of four earning $50,000 would pay $466 per year into the single-payer system.
Sanders claims the plan will result in an overall savings of $6 trillion over the next 10 years, when compared to the current system.
I'm sorry Bernie, but that's magical thinking.
The average family is going to see their health insurance expenses fall to about 8 % of what they are right now?
Yea, and it will never rain on the weekend again, no one will ever die and bottles of prosecco will fly out of my dog's butt!I think Bernie's numbers could work when you look at the taxes he's proposing. The Medicare for all proposition would be paid for by the wealthy and upper middle class.
Now to Bernie's credit, this will be politically unpopular in many circles. But he's moving forward with it. We'll have to see if it works in the early voting states.
I'll give Sanders credit for actually laying out there what he wants to do, bad math or not. At least he doesnt appear to be lying to get elected. Let the people see his plan, and let the people say yea or nay at the voting booth. I do like that.
- Rongone
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Re: Bernie Sanders’s universal healthcare plan
I agree with The Man. Regardless of whether you agree with his plan or not, he at least has a plan and is not afraid of putting it out there. From my perspective, I'd rather give credit to those who have a plan/vision going forward. I'm tired of these politicians whose only plan is to dismantle, repeal, or reject any new approach and don't have any viable future plan for the benefit of all Americans.
When I hear a candidate say something like: "My first week in office, I will reverse everything done by the current president.", I pretty much turn off my ears.
Just what I want to do . . . Jump in a car with somebody that wants to jam the car into reverse and speed off down the highway. That doesn't sound like the safest, most expeditious plan to get to our destination.