Monday, January 28, 2019

My First look at Bernie's Medicare For All

Today I was puttering about, and for no particular reason decided it was a good day to look at Bernie Sanders website for information about his Medicare For All plan.  You can find Bernie's Medicare For All at berniesanders.com.

I quickly learned the Medicare Bernie has in mind does not resemble the Medicare seniors have today.  The Medicare seniors have today is very expensive, but its benefits are inadequate. An insurance plan having benefits equal to Medicare benefits would not qualify to be offered on any of the ACA Exchanges.  In fact, Medicare benefits make it necessary for seniors to pay for supplemental plans, to have adequate coverage.  But Bernie's MFA promises significantly better benefits than Medicare.  Except Bernie's description refers only to "workers".  I could not find a statement to indicate seniors qualify for Bernie's MFA.  So does Bernie's Medicare For All really mean "for all"?  I can't tell.  Whatever.  Changed, changed utterly, a terrible beauty is born. 

But wow are Bernie's MFA benefits comprehensive.  Bernie's MFA plan includes "no copays, no deductibles and no fighting with insurance companies when they fail to pay for charges."  The government as single-payer will pay all charges, even for long-term care.  This is way better than ACA!  Just note it's not medical insurance - it's medical welfare.

Bernie says his plan "has been estimated to save the American people and businesses over $6 trillion over the next decade."  Excellent estimate.  Just like the excellent ACA estimate of reducing the average family premium by $2,500 per year.   

Who knows, Bernie's Medicare For All might even make all our children handsome and above average.  

Bernie also summarizes at his website how he thinks this will all be paid for.  I won't bore you with those details, but think "taxes".  No, no, think bigger - much more taxes than that.  Americans must pay much higher taxes because Bernie's MFA will save Americans so much.  But why are you even worrying about how to pay for Bernie's MFA?  The world is coming to an end in 12 years!! 

You'll also notice at Bernie's website he says "We must stop forcing working Americans to choose between bargaining for higher wages or  better health insurance”

Yes.  Bernie's Medicare For All will force working Americans to pay much higher taxes for better health insurance - no choice, period. 

I can scarcely contain my enthusiasm.

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