Biden calls for everyone having the choice to buy into Medicare

[highplainsdem]

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/441232-biden-calls-for-giving-everyone-the-choice-to-buy-into-medicare

Former Vice President Joe Biden on Monday called for giving everyone the option to buy into Medicare but stopped short of supporting the full "Medicare for All" proposal backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Biden framed his approach as giving people a choice between government-run insurance and private plans. In contrast, the proposal from Sanders, a rival presidential candidate, would require everyone to be on a government plan.

"Whether you're covered through your employer or on your own or not, you all should have a choice to be able to buy into a public option plan for Medicare," Biden said in a speech in Pittsburgh, the first major address of his presidential campaign, which he announced last week.

"Your choice," Biden added. "And if the insurance company isn't doing the right thing by you, you should have another choice."

-snip-

[Freethinker65]

1. Yes!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

2. And so the issue is joined... let's have the debate!! MFA!!

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

[Blue_true]

22. Agreed, let the debate settle the issue. Capital Letter, small person. nt

[leftofcool]

3. I like having a choice. Thank you, Joe

[comradebillyboy]

4. Public option is a better electoral issue than MFA

[UniteFightBack]

12. +1000

[George II]

13. Indeed.

[NYMinute]

14. Yep

MfA is suicidal

[Kurt V.]

5. this approach, promoted by many candidates, will, over time, will put some insurance

Companies out of business. the ones that can adjust to the upper 20% income earners will be fine.

[AllyCat]

24. Good. I hope more than 20% go out of business.

They are almost all horrible. Dreadful insurance companies that make a ton of cash not providing benefits for our obscene premiums.

[PatSeg]

6. Absolutely

It should be a choice and if private insurers can't compete, they'll go out of business. I think private health insurance will fade away over time. It was always a bad idea.

[AllyCat]

25. And even a public option if your employer provides "coverage".

I work in healthcare and am represented by a union. Our insurance BLOWS. Dreadful coverage. Premiums go up every year. If I am beholden to buying crappy plans from my employer, I will support MFA.

[AlexSFCA]

8. perfect

I love my current private plan paid by my employer. Long term private health insurance is not sustainable but Biden proposes the most realistic move to a single payer healthcare plan that is likely SC proof. Medicare will have to compete with private plans on costs and quality. This will likely have positive effects on the entire healthcare market and may improve Medicare. When millions more switch to Medicare then we can talk about complete transition. Any ‘Medicare for All’ bills that pass today will be immidiately stopped by preliminary injunction from the current SC and then overturned entirely.
Biden is a real progressive candidate. I am not comparing him to democratic socialists which is drastically different ideology.

I gotta say I am in love with Biden’s strategy. He doesn’t go after the base as much as after the voters whol will decide general election outcome. He goes after trump voters early on to secure their trust and simultaneusly desttroying Sanders toxic influence on our party. He already won the base once he proves to us he is most likely to beat trump - the only question that matters to primary dem voters.

[Skya Rhen]

9. I will not tolerate anyone depriving me and my family of my private insurance

so I feel that this proposal is fair.

[ecstatic]

10. I think the "public option" is the most realistic strategy at this time.

Private insurance companies would have to rethink their operations in order to keep customers. Long term, I don't think private insurance would be able to compete with Medicare and we'd eventually end up with Medicare for all.

[Honeycombe8]

11. This is a surprise. But yes, health care is a huge, tough issue.

But ins. cos. need to be removed from the equation, except as an option for those who want it.

In other words...the "option" is not the govt. version. No.

Everyone is covered by the govt insurance, but you have the "option" to buy private ins. I think that's the way it is in Canada and Great Britain and other countries.

We can't pass anything with a Republican Senate, though.

[marylandblue]

17. There are enough vulnerable Republican Senators to swing the Senate.

Any Democratic candidate should campaign in those states to help flip the Senate.

[Honeycombe8]

18. Are there? I thought I'd read there weren't. OMG.

Just having the chance gives me a thrill.

Imagine what the Democrats could do if we have the W.H. and both houses of Congress!

[marylandblue]

20. Collins, McSally, Gardner and Tillis are vulnerable

Three of the four plus the White House gives us the Senate.

[Property Question]

32. Totally agree - Everyone covered by medicare, but opt in to insurance

Yes.

Single payer should be the default and if people want, let them opt into insurance.

[David__77]

15. I'd prefer for everyone to be extended coverage under an expanded Medicare.

On the other hand, if a public coverage "buy in" cost were nominal, then I don't think many people would want to continue with private insurance.

[Hortensis]

23. That's the expectation. However,

if government program competition somehow forced private claims processing companies (insurance Obsolete as the main healthcare delivery vehicle) to be competitive, unlikely as that seems, or offer better coverages as an employment benefit, then OK. IMO, choice and flexibility are desirable.

[Hoyt]

29. Support POption as only way to get some passed, but it won't be cheap.

Last edited Mon Apr 29, 2019, 09:33 PM - Edit history (1)

If private insurance in today’s competitive environment is $600 per month, a Medicare buyin is going to be at best $500 per month including a supplement for prescription drugs, which traditional Medicare does not cover.

But, we can be sure Medicare will focus on controlling cost and ensuring quality, unlike private insurance.

[WeekiWater]

16. This, or something similar, is the next step. NT

[stopwastingmymoney]

19. A qualified Rec

Because it should have been done 10 years ago. I always thought it was the best way to proceed and yes, I’m still pissed they didn’t fight harder for it. Grumble grumble...

[Fiendish Thingy]

21. At the same tax rate as non-Medicare participants?

Not sure Joe has thought this through- Medicare for all would mean no more insurance premiums for workers or employers, just the tax withheld from pay checks, and if you're unemployed, you still get coverage- the same coverage as everyone else.

Medicare-by-choice is a lot more complicated than Medicare for all...

[Rebl2]

26. I agree with Biden

on this. I like the employer insurance my husband retired with. He has Medicare and his employer insurance as his secondary. I’m not old enough to be on Medicare yet and am on his insurance. I have rheumatoid arthritis and one of the medications I take is a biologic drug and costs around 14000 dollars for twelve shots. When I spoke with AARP about it they said hold on to the employer insurance as long as you can, because if I got on part D Medicare I would have to pay about 8000 or more dollars for 12 shots. No way can I afford that. I’m just saying I don’t want to deny others from buying into Medicare, but right now I want to keep the employer insurance we have and not be forced on to Medicare with no other options for other insurance for the reasons above.

[DallasNE]

27. So Is This ACA With An Additional Option Of Medicare

Does it replace ACA and if so how is it funded. If an employer has an insurance plan available are they required to add a Medicare option.

You don't roll something out this complex without some detail on how it works. And why not Medicare for all? How would this be better?

Sale pending.

[Property Question]

34. He doesn't know how it would work but is throwing a limp noodle at the wall

Prediction: there will be no details about this. It is being offered as a "feel good" policy proposal. Would Biden fight for it? Certainly not, as he didn't when he had the chance and they caved to the insurance companies last time.

It has to be medicare for all with any option to buy into insurance. Not the reverse.

Thanks

[crazytown]

28. 'Medicare for all who want it' vs 'You're gonna get it anyway'

‘But I’m happy with my current insurance’ Answer: We know better. You’ll see. Listen to what I’m telling you know. Trust us.

[Property Question]

30. Nope not good enough

Radical change is needed in the "for profit" healthcare system which is eating up increasing amounts of our GNP. Health insurance companies eat up 35% of that and offer NO VALUE ADDED. Cut out the worthless middle man.

Biden, like President Obama, are beholden to health insurance companies.

Do NOT accept this weak tea nothingburger and call it out for what it is. Which is totally inadequate.

Thanks.

[samnsara]

31. i LIKE that idea a lot!

[Kaleva]

33. What would the monthly premium be? And would Medicare still only cover 80% of costs?

[leftofcool]

35. High premium depending on income and yes still 80%

No vision, no dental no hearing aids, only certain blood tests etc...