Biden campaign rips 'Medicare for All,' calls on Dems to protect Affordable Care Act

[left-of-center2012]

Joe Biden’s presidential campaign expanded his critiques against “Medicare for All” and pressed its opponents to fight to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which the former vice president played a crucial role in ushering through Congress.

Deputy Campaign Manager and Communications Director Kate Bedingfield detailed Republican efforts to overhaul the Obama administration’s signature legislation. Bedingfield said Democrats should work to protect the law instead of enacting a plan the campaign says would effectively kill it.

“With all of these renewed threats, as Democrats we should be presenting a united front to protect the law we rallied together to pass,” Bedingfield wrote in a Medium post. “Defending Obamacare is how Democrats took back the House. And it’ll be one way we take back the Presidency from Trump.”

“Joe Biden has been very clear: he will not support any policy that means getting rid of Obamacare. He will oppose Republican efforts; he will oppose Democratic efforts,” she continued.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/454013-biden-campaign-rips-medicare-for-all-calls-on-dems-to-protect-affordable

[Turbineguy]

1. Suddenly switching to single payer

would create a lot of economic distortion. It should evolve, perhaps take several decades.

[YOHABLO]

34. Several decades? What? No. This 'evolve' crap is BS (and I don't mean Bernie Sanders).

Economic distortion? Not buying that. Oh puleeeze.

[DownriverDem]

39. Details

Those on Medicare get Part A at 65 because they paid payroll taxes to be eligible. Part B is paid for by the recipient (directly or it comes out of Social Security). Finally, you have to get some kind of Medicare advantage policy to cover what Part A and Part B doesn't cover. Most folks don't know any of this. We need to talk reality. We need plans. We need details.

[dflprincess]

45. We need something better than Medicare

Having reached Medicare age I have to say that I'm not impressed with what I've learned about it.

Currently I just have Medicare A and my employer's plan is still my primary insurance. I'm in the very unusual position of having a plan that costs less and covers more than if I took Medicare B & bought a supplement to cover what A & B don't, plus another plan for prescriptions. In addtion, Medicare doesn't cover dental so you either pay all those expenses out of pocket or you pay a private insurer for some coverage.

I had planned to retire at 70, now I'm thinking I'll keep working until I absolutely can't

BTW a "Medicare Advantage" plan rolls all your Mediare coverage into one & you can get Advantage plans that cover prescriptios, vision, and dental and can be a better deal. But they are sold by private companies and, in my opinion, are a way to slowly undermine traditional, government run Medicare. (For example, the plan AARP pushes, is run by UnitedHealth Group.)

[wasupaloopa]

56. Medicare advantage is private insurance.

Which some want to outlaw.

I think those calling for single payer have little understanding about payer, provider and reimbusement issues. They think they have a right to free health care because other countries have it.

We need to ignore that kind of thinking and do what is just and right for all. That will take us getting in power and solving a long standing problem.

[dflprincess]

65. That's correct

Medicare Advantage is sold by outfits like UnitedHealth group. I've run across a lot of people who don't understand that. They are a way for private insurers to undermine the program

[YOHABLO]

46. Oh I don't disagree, Medicare as is, will not cut it. I am a participant in SSDI. Stressful.

[guillaumeb]

40. It did not take that long in Canada.

There is no need for it to take that long here, except for the economic and political power of the health care industry.

[Kurt V.]

2. we need a transition period. so lets call it that

[DeminPennswoods]

4. There is a transition period in the M4A bill

ftr, iirc, it's 4 years.

[marylandblue]

8. It's too rigid. You will be forced on M4A in the 4th year whether you want it or not.

Whether it's working or not. Whether you are in the middle of a major health crisis or not. Whether your doctor signs up or not.

[Kurt V.]

11. yes! we need to get that out there. ppl think otherwise.

[marylandblue]

14. Why not get a public option going and let people transition when they want,

Instead of forcing them on M4A after 4 yeats, whether they want to or not.

[Kurt V.]

17. for some ppl it will never be right. now or later.

[marylandblue]

19. Then let them keep what they have.

[Demsrule86]

3. Very good advice.

The ACA is what we have and probably all we will have for the next twenty years or so...we can build on it...starting from scratch is just nuts.

[pangaia]

10. The next 20 years??? Are you kidding me? Boy that's a depressing thought...

[Demsrule86]

61. It is the truth. MFA will not happen...and the ACA is what we have...Biden's plan will

insure those who's murderous states didn't expand Medicaid through a public option but we need the senate for that. Taking away health insurance from the people who get it at the workplace is a non starter...It will cost workers more and the coverage will be less.

[Autumn]

16. Medicare is an existing program. Expanding it will not be hard nt

[marylandblue]

18. Except M4A is Medicare in name only. It is an entirely different system

In funding, scope, and coverage. And covers more than any other system in the world. In other words, we are going from the worst, most expensive healthcare system in the world to the best in 4 years.

Yeah, I don't foresee any challenges at all with it. In other news, I will go from coach potato to winning marathons.

[Autumn]

20. Put your running shoes on because it's goings to happen. Good luck with those massive subsidies.

[marylandblue]

23. And how do you know this? The much less ambitious ACA did not go smoothly either.

The more I think about it, the more ways I think it could go wrong.

[Autumn]

28. ACA built from scratch, MFA expands an existing big program that a lot of people are already on.

VA is another big existing program that a lot of people are already on and it remains the same. That's two big chunks that are already covered under MFA. Employers can offer MFA to their employes saving money for both sides.

[marylandblue]

37. Like I said, MFA is NOT Medicare. Calling a dog a cat does not make it a cat.

The VA is also not Medicare and does not work like Medicare. Why is this so hard to understand? Other than being Government programs, what part of M4A is the same as Medicare? Funding mechanism? No. People covered? No. Premiums? No. Copay? No. Supplemental options? No.

If a private company offered two totally different products but saud they were exactly the same, you would rightly call it fraud. This is fraud.

[Autumn]

42. And the ACA is not affordable healthcare. MFA is not fraud, and no one said it's the same

as Medicare, it's an expansion based on our existing Medicare and from what I read of the bill there is more coverage. The VA and Medicare are both government programs, what seems to be hard for you to understand is I never claimed they were the same. Both programs are existing programs that cover a lot of people.

[marylandblue]

44. I get that Medicare and VA are both government programs.

My point is that M4A is a new program, not an expansion of an existing program. I don't care what you call it, it does not function the same as Medicare or the VA in any meaningful way. Neither Medicare or the VA are even close to M4A in terms of size, scope, cost or coverage. Therefore, it will have all the challenges of starting up any new program that totally changes how $3 trillion dollars are spent for 300 million people. You are trying to pretend this will be easy. It will not be. The only comparable thing in recent history is ACA, and it wasn't easy, it disrupted insurance for millions of people who already had it and as you yourself point out, it isn't that affordable.

You might convince me that M4A is the best thing in the end? You'll never convince me the transition would be easy. Unless you actually have stood up a $3 trillion healthcare program for 300 million people. Have you ever done it? Do you know anyone who has? Until then, consider me skeptical. There are lot of skeptics like me.


On edit: I probably sound a bit harsh. I apologize for that. My family has complex and chronic healthcare needs. I am fortunate to have health insurance that works for me. I am willing to pay higher taxes so other people can have insurance. But I do not believe at this time that the M4A law as currently written will work for my family. Since my family does have a lot of healthcare needs, any disruption in healthcare is an existential threat for me.

[JoeOtterbein]

5. Why didn't Joe convince Lieberman about the public option when it had a chance?

We need to aim as high as we can, if we expect to get anything.

[Cha]

21. Why don't you ask

joe f******* Liebermann?

[JoeOtterbein]

24. Being dismissive is a great way to...

...demoralize someone.

[Cha]

25. I'll ask again.. Why don't you ask Joe

Liebermann?

[JoeOtterbein]

30. Because he is not running for POTUS.

I hope! (LOL)

[Demsrule86]

62. Lieberman had an axe to grind with the Democrats...another instance of had we not primaryed him

he would have voted for a public option. All this going back is a waste of time and energy...time to move forward.

[Thekaspervote]

6. Polls show Americans like the ACA

Dotard and his ilk have weakened it, making it less popular. More expensive with less coverage

https://www.businessinsider.com/poll-obamacare-support-oppose-elections-results-2018-10

[LakeArenal]

7. ‼️

[tymorial]

9. Medicare already has plans and plays to change from the traditional fee for service model

It forces providers to justify the additional increase in their fee schedules but it brings the reimbursement rates closer to what commercial payers currently pay.

Any public plan that will be solvent and not force closures and consolidation of health care providers requires an increase in what CMS and state medicaid currently pay.

If this occurs and a public option is offered then I can see a path to single-payer or universal healthcare. Without consideration to the reality that income generated by commercial payers keep providers afloat, there is no path forward to single payer, Medicare for all or universal healthcare.

The label doesn't matter. If we do not want to see mass closures, layoffs and/or consolidation of provider organizations what providers receive is a necessary consideration

[Lordquinton]

36. "If we do not want to see mass closures, layoffs and/or consolidation"

You mean what's happened already?

[tymorial]

43. Um, no it hasn't. Not for the reasons I have stated at least because they dont exist

The fact you would propose this makes me question your understanding of healthcare delivery and payment and whether you have an agenda which supercedes reality.

[Gothmog]

12. I support the Affordable Care Act

[JI7]

13. the other candidates are just letting him own this issue

[betsuni]

15. K&R

[Cha]

22. "Joe Biden has been very clear: he will not support any policy that means getting rid of Obamacare.

Thank You, Joe Biden!

[redstatebluegirl]

26. I hate to get abused here, but I agree, small steps, we will not win shoving it down

their throats.

[George II]

27. He's right. Medicare for All as proposed will not work.

[jalan48]

29. The insurance companies will love hearing this.

[NYMinute]

32. This is why I like Joe Biden nt

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

33. Joe is wrong on this one!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[YOHABLO]

35. I agree, but we also have to work on the extension of Medicaid in states that have not yet done so.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

41. I hear ya!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[ooky]

38. Joe's right.

[YOHABLO]

47. If we don't get out and vote for Dem Senators and a Dem Presidential nominee, we're screwed.

[ProfessionalLeft]

48. Yeah

Obviously, we'll be infinitely better off if we remove Trump from office and replace him with a Democratic candidate.

But we desperately need the Senate, too. Without control of the Senate we'll get little, if anything, progressive enacted.

P.S. Even if we do take the Senate, I want McGrath to take McTurtle's seat. He (McTurtle) has done more to destroy our democracy than anyone, even Trump. We need them both gone.

[Cha]

49. Good News.. These Dems are Helping!

Biden proposes massive new Obamacare subsidies, public option in health care plan

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287201979

Biden is in Good Company!

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Progressives Support Shoring Up ACA Before Tackling Medicare For All

Despite a large division in the Democratic party over the best health care solution ― single-payer or a continuation and possible expansion of something like Obamacare ― progressives in Congress appear to be in lockstep with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s priority of shoring up the ACA before tackling anything like Medicare for All.

“I’m happy to support any provision that strengthens the ACA and plug some of the gaps that we’re seeing, particularly as it’s under assault by the president,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told HuffPost on Wednesday. “I think it’s part of a longer-term vision, at least for me, towards guaranteeing ― truly guaranteeing ― health care for all Americans.”

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142293852#top

Looks like the House Progressives are with former VP Joe Biden

Here's Beto..

Link to tweet

[myohmy2]

50. "Defending Obamacare..."

...yes...wrapping your arms around Obamacare, no...

...it never had what I would consider a most important feature, a public option...

...Obamacare was good for it's time, but we can do better...Medicare is a much better deal than Obamacare...

...Medicare For All is the way to go...

...

[betsuni]

51. Yes, it did have public option. Passed the House, couldn't pass in the Senate.

2016 Democratic Party platform: ACA with public option and 55 years old opt in to Medicare.

[Tiggeroshii]

52. Smdh

[ucrdem]

53. Good. The senators who signed that thing deserve to be called on the carpet for it. nt

[still_one]

54. Don't fuck around with Medicare. It was and is intended for those 65 and older who in most cases

were paying into it for 25 some years.

Even then you still pay premiums, and a supplemental plan or you choose an advantage plan, but may have less choice where you can go.

For those under 65, you want to build on the ACA, give them a public option. If they want a different route then devise a universal care for them, but Medicare is for those 65 or older, unless covered under special circumstances

[YOHABLO]

58. Medicare is also for those who have disabilities. Not just 65 and over.

[still_one]

63. That is why I wrote most. The special cases are unique, such as end stage renal disease etc

Except for those situations, you want to cover those under 65, devise a universal health care for them, or build onto the ACA

[myohmy2]

60. "Don't fuck around with Medicare."

...I too worry about them fucking up and degrading what we now have on Medicare...

...but if they don't degrade what we now have on Medicare and/or improve Medicare to include reduced or no co-pays and deductibles, vision care, dental, drugs, hearing aids etc....what would be wrong with that?

...I know the devil's in the details but MFA could being good healthcare to not only us but to most of the population while reducing costs with their tremendous negotiating and buying power...

...cut Medicare loose with MFA to serve all of the American people...it would set us free from undo corporate profiteering and place that money into healthcare where it belongs...

...MFA could be a win-win situation...

[still_one]

64. Let them setup a separate universal care plan for those under 65. I don't want them to commingle

it with Medicare

As for the deficiencies within Medicare, they should be addressed within Medicare itself

I frankly don’t trust them not to mess things up with Medicare if they try to combine in

[emmaverybo]

55. Support ACA, which can be, as was intended, improved upon greatly. I support leaving Medicare

in place, and Medicaid with expansion. We could also afford more leeway in the income eligibility for Medicaid so more people could be eligible. Half of seniors do supplement their Medicare, many with affordable plans or plans their retirement pays total cost of. We can close up the Medicare coverage gaps, and mandate that more doctors take it. As for the uninsured, here’s where we can offer coverage that’s affordable. And this could mean fed intervention but nothing like the projected trillions and trillions for Medicare4All, which will mean a whole new and untested program, which may end up looking like NHS or having the problems of the V.A.
If you
If you like your plan, you should be able to keep it.

[OKNancy]

57. The ACA was really good for my family.

Do you know how much private insurance costs for a man over age 60? My husband worked in construction and was not covered where he worked. It wouldn't have mattered anyway because when he got cancer, he wasn't able to work a lot anyway. We went on Obamacare. Because of our lowered income we got a generous subsidy. BTW I was 4 years older than my husband so I just got on Medicare. Being with the ACA saved us thousands. Do you know how much one round of Keytruda is? $40,000.

After my daughter graduated from college with a degree in Journalism, she went to work for a TV station. Their policy was you start at the bottom. It was also part-time and paid shit wages. Supply and demand...everyone wants to be on tv. She got an Obamacare plan.
No deductible, 100% coverage, premium per month was $27.00. I guess because she was so young and was low income it was pretty cheap.

[BeckyDem]

59. Huge mistake. Incredible he thinks this will fly with voters.