Current Events > TIL a majority of Americans now support national Medicare for all.

(+) Yeah! (+)

March 28th, 2018
Little dated but still worth discussion.

A new poll found that a majority of Americans support a radical change to the US healthcare system

A new poll found 59% of Americans support a "national Medicare-for-all plan."

The plan is similar to a proposal made by Sen. Bernie Sanders during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Support for the idea is split along party lines, with only 36% of Republicans in favor.

The healthcare system supported by Bernie Sanders and many liberal-leaning Democrats has begun gaining steam with more Americans, according to a new poll.

The poll, from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health policy think tank, found that:

59% of respondents supported a Medicare-for-all healthcare system in which all Americans would get coverage through a government program like Medicare or Medicaid.

Moving to a public-option model, under which people could sign up for the Medicare-like program, would be even more popular.

About 75% of the public would favor a program framed as a public option for anyone who wants it.

There is, as expected, a partisan split in the polling on Medicare-for-all:

75% of Democrats support the idea along with 58% of independents.
But just 36% of Republicans are in favor of the idea.

But, when asked about the optional expanded Medicare program, or "Medicare-for-some," support among GOP voters jumped to 64%.

While the Medicare-for-all option is still a difficult sell for lawmakers, 16 Democrats signed on to Sanders' bill to implement such a program in the US back in September. Additionally, many business leaders and politicians have been floating the idea for a single-payer system, which would see the government fund a vast majority of medical coverage.

More reading/source
http://www.businessinsider.com/poll-medicare-for-all-public-option-bernie-sanders-plan-support-2018-3

Do you think public opinion will soon be at a tipping point where the US joins many other countries by providing a Medicare for all single payer type system? Why are you for or against it?
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I mean were definitely not getting healthcare reform anytime soon, but theres growing support for it. I think it would be beneficial to society.
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Yeah, not with Republicans controlling Legislative/Executive anyways.

Colorado attempted to pass a bill to set up a program like this, but it was narrowly defeated a few years back.

Not sure if anything else like this came up though since then.
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Medicare isn't really very well structured. It's easily abused, especially by medical device manufacturers. The coverage is good (especially if you get Part D). I think if they made a universal Medicare it'd need stronger cost control measures.

Ironically, conservatives would oppose it because they "wouldn't want the government making medical decisions", yet nearly everything we do is based on Medicare billing anyway.
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I wonder how many people would still support it after getting raped by taxes.
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voldothegr8 posted...

I wonder how many people would still support it after getting raped by taxes.

Considering we pay more federal dollars per capita for "not universal" health care, I'd say cost savings associated with efficiency improvements from a universal system would, if anything, lower taxes. But being a doctor, I obviously don't know this stuff as well as Trailer Park Paul.
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Lmao @ trailer park paul
And yeah thats kinda why I said health care reform, Medicare isnt a system that will support universal healthcare very well imo
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Coffeebeanz posted...

voldothegr8 posted...

I wonder how many people would still support it after getting raped by taxes.

Considering we pay more federal dollars per capita for "not universal" health care, I'd say cost savings associated with efficiency improvements from a universal system would, if anything, lower taxes. But being a doctor, I obviously don't know this stuff as well as Trailer Park Paul.

Government fucks up what they're in charge of now and you trust them to handle universal care properly? LOL. No way would taxes go down or even stay the same.
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joestarrr posted...

I mean were definitely not getting healthcare reform anytime soon, but theres growing support for it. I think it would be beneficial to society.

Oh I completely disagree with the idea that health care reform isn't happening soon. I get the feeling that it'll be the major issue of the 2020 election being that it's very likely that Republicans will lose the House this year and any attempt at reform under Trump is going to be completely stalled. And by it being stalled and prices continue to rise it'll motivate both sides to want reform.
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Idk man its almost like having a society of healthier people (who dont wait until theyre on deaths door to get help) is beneficial in terms of savings on healthcare spending
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I'm curious as to if this applies with other reforms, but with medical marijuana each state first had public opinion polls hovering around 70% on average in favor before eventually passing from what I've read of it.

It would be interesting to see if that is what is required for other policy initiatives to pass on a federal level. I mean, if it is even something like a public option would be in the realm of possibility considering public opinion is already there, but I think that's being incredibly conservative about the estimate.

Democrats might be done with a public option the next time around and just go for a universal single payer system.
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People who aren't in favor of Medicare for all are perfectly fine with over 40,000 Americans a year dying because they don't have access to basic coverage.
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Kombucha posted...

Democrats might be done with a public option the next time around and just go for a universal single payer system.

Oh they absolutely are going to be pushing for the single payer come 2020, which is why so many of the potential candidates got behind Bernie's "Medicare for all" idea earlier this year when he released it. Warren, Booker, Gillibrand, and Harris I know for a fact all endorsed it, and with Bernie himself that's arguably the 5 front runners in the primary. And it's got massive support from the voter base.
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We might as well do the public option if 75% total are in support. The Republicans can claim it was their idea.
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59% of Americans have no idea how much it would cost to implement Medicare for all.
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I'd bet my hat that over 60% of those 64% of Republicans who oppose it are the ones rich enough to get incredibly high standards of private medical care.
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Garioshi posted...

People who aren't in favor of Medicare for all are perfectly fine with over 40,000 Americans a year dying because they don't have access to basic coverage.

i bet you're fine with millions of humans dying a year because they don't have adequate food
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A new poll

That I didn't vote in
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Rick-C137 posted...

Garioshi posted...

People who aren't in favor of Medicare for all are perfectly fine with over 40,000 Americans a year dying because they don't have access to basic coverage.

i bet you're fine with millions of humans dying a year because they don't have adequate food

I'm not
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It's crazy how outnumbered people not in favor of this are, looking at this poll above. Like you'd think that poll would be 50/50 given the kind of discourse that goes on around here regarding the rabid defense of privatization.
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Coffeebeanz posted...

voldothegr8 posted...

I wonder how many people would still support it after getting raped by taxes.

Considering we pay more federal dollars per capita for "not universal" health care, I'd say cost savings associated with efficiency improvements from a universal system would, if anything, lower taxes. But being a doctor, I obviously don't know this stuff as well as Trailer Park Paul.

not quite true on the sourcing of the dollars

we pay more dollars total per capita for it

but about half that cost is paid by the feds (through subsidization of employer system by tax breaks) and the other half by employers and employees

the shift would basically be instead of paying insurance premiums you pay a tax, and the govt enjoys new revenue from the removal of the tax break, while employers and employees see a cost shift from paying UNH to paying the feds
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The Great Muta 22 posted...

Kombucha posted...

Democrats might be done with a public option the next time around and just go for a universal single payer system.

Oh they absolutely are going to be pushing for the single payer come 2020, which is why so many of the potential candidates got behind Bernie's "Medicare for all" idea earlier this year when he released it. Warren, Booker, Gillibrand, and Harris I know for a fact all endorsed it, and with Bernie himself that's arguably the 5 front runners in the primary. And it's got massive support from the voter base.

I hope that it works out as you predict. I guess first off there needs to be a strong democratic showing in the upcoming midterm election. I'm always a bit cautious about overestimating just how angry people are with the status quo. I vividly recall many people being upset about GWB and thinking Kerry had this, but I was dead wrong.
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Sativa_Rose posted...

We might as well do the public option if 75% total are in support. The Republicans can claim it was their idea.

nah

GOP in the senate are elected by around a third of the US population, and in the house their majority is held by around 45%

they can continue to fight public opinion because we dont reflect what is popular in our representation
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Kombucha posted...

It's crazy how outnumbered people not in favor of this are, looking at this poll above. Like you'd think that poll would be 50/50 given the kind of discourse that goes on around here regarding the rabid defense of privatization.

All the looneys want their free medical aid for der mental illnesses :((
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It doesn't matter as long as the people in charge don't.
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Medicare for all is just something self-righteous people push. Its something so you can tell yourself "I did a good thing."

Yet you still run the rat race for you and your family.
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Polls for what the American people mean fuck all if they don't elect the right politicians.
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I'd support a public option, I don't support a single payer system.
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Darkman124 posted...

Sativa_Rose posted...

We might as well do the public option if 75% total are in support. The Republicans can claim it was their idea.

nah

GOP in the senate are elected by around a third of the US population, and in the house their majority is held by around 45%

they can continue to fight public opinion because we dont reflect what is popular in our representation

Welp, I guess all we can do is return to federalism and do things at the state level again, which probably isn't that bad of an idea.
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voldothegr8 posted...

I wonder how many people would still support it after getting raped by taxes.

Trying to get rid of uhc would be political suicide in any country that has it

Darkman124 posted...

Coffeebeanz posted...

voldothegr8 posted...

I wonder how many people would still support it after getting raped by taxes.

Considering we pay more federal dollars per capita for "not universal" health care, I'd say cost savings associated with efficiency improvements from a universal system would, if anything, lower taxes. But being a doctor, I obviously don't know this stuff as well as Trailer Park Paul.

not quite true on the sourcing of the dollars

we pay more dollars total per capita for it

but about half that cost is paid by the feds (through subsidization of employer system by tax breaks) and the other half by employers and employees

the shift would basically be instead of paying insurance premiums you pay a tax, and the govt enjoys new revenue from the removal of the tax break, while employers and employees see a cost shift from paying UNH to paying the feds

tbf, even just public dollars paying half the costs means our government spends as much as most other governments do on healthcare


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I will say, though, that proponents of Medicare for All need to start being a lot more careful when they make comparisons to other countries. Basically no one has a single-payer system except for Canada and a couple asian countries (I think south korea)

it's not a widely used model
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and theres a reason the US has the best doctors and surgeons

and medical breakthroughs
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New User
User Since: Sep 2018
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Kombucha posted...

Colorado attempted to pass a bill to set up a program like this, but it was narrowly defeated a few years back.

Oh yeah? Link?
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John_Galt posted...

Kombucha posted...

Colorado attempted to pass a bill to set up a program like this, but it was narrowly defeated a few years back.

Oh yeah? Link?

I guess I was wrong with "narrowly", it was defeated in a landslide. I remember Bernie stumped for this, if you google Colorado Care you can probably find more information about it. A lot of money was dumped into fighting against it IIRC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ColoradoCare
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KILBOTz posted...

I'd support a public option, I don't support a single payer system.

Why?
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Kombucha posted...

KILBOTz posted...

I'd support a public option, I don't support a single payer system.

Why?

A "public option" will slowly (possibly quickly) become a de facto single-payer system anyway.

Medicare is already available for all Americans
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SuperMedz3 posted...

Medicare is already available for all Americans

... What?
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Questionmarktarius posted...

Kombucha posted...

KILBOTz posted...

I'd support a public option, I don't support a single payer system.

Why?

A "public option" will slowly (possibly quickly) become a de facto single-payer system anyway.

very quickly since funding it will require removal of the employer insurance tax benefit, and by extension, the employer insurance mandate
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Darkman124 posted...

Questionmarktarius posted...

Kombucha posted...

KILBOTz posted...

I'd support a public option, I don't support a single payer system.

Why?

A "public option" will slowly (possibly quickly) become a de facto single-payer system anyway.

very quickly since funding it will require removal of the employer insurance tax benefit, and by extension, the employer insurance mandate

I was thinking more along the lines of employers dogpiling into the public option, but there's also that.

The Koch bros funded a study that concluded the nation would save some absurd number (couple of trillions I think) if we switched to UHC, so most arguments about muh taxes are pretty much null.
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AABLMD82 posted...

The Koch bros funded a study that concluded the nation would save some absurd number (couple of trillions I think) if we switched to UHC, so most arguments about muh taxes are pretty much null.

Likely even more, once the inevitable rationing kicks in.

Questionmarktarius posted...

AABLMD82 posted...

The Koch bros funded a study that concluded the nation would save some absurd number (couple of trillions I think) if we switched to UHC, so most arguments about muh taxes are pretty much null.

Likely even more, once the inevitable rationing kicks in.

I mean taxes would go way up. It cuts aggregate spending, but as noted above, we only fund about half of our health expenses through government
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taxation is theft

privatize everything
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Questionmarktarius posted...

AABLMD82 posted...

The Koch bros funded a study that concluded the nation would save some absurd number (couple of trillions I think) if we switched to UHC, so most arguments about muh taxes are pretty much null.

Likely even more, once the inevitable rationing kicks in.

Imagine believing that "rationing" would ever "kick in."

I bet you believe in death panels too, don't you?

_Rinku_ posted...

I bet you believe in death panels too, don't you?

You don't?