Single payer and 2016

[eridani]

http://kff.org/uninsured/poll-finding/kaiser-health-tracking-poll-december-2015/

Recently Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders debated the idea of “Medicare-for-all,” which involves creating a national health plan in which all Americans would get their insurance through an expanded version of the Medicare program. A large majority of Democrats (81%) support the idea of Medicare-for-all, as do most independents (60%), while most Republicans (63%) oppose the idea. The poll did not ask about details or tradeoffs.

At the same time, few Democrats say the issue will be the driving force behind their vote: just 5 percent of Democrats say that it will be the single most important factor in their presidential vote. A third of Democrats (34%) say it will be very important, but not the most important factor, while others say it will be one of many factors they will consider (36%) or that it won’t matter at all (5%). Future polls may explore the issue in greater depth.

KFF December 2015 Tracking Poll:
http://kff.org/health-costs/press-release/few-uninsured-know-date-of-pending-deadline-for-obtaining-marketplace-coverage-many-say-they-will-get-coverage-soon-though-cost-is-a-concern/

Comment by Don McCanne of PNHP: Many political insiders contend that a single payer national health program - an improved Medicare for all - is off the table, so essentially all current political efforts are directed to paring back or modifying the Affordable Care Act - Obamacare. Bernie Sanders does not agree and has injected Medicare for all back into the political arena. So what do Americans think about

Medicare for all?

This new poll shows that there has been no decline in support of Medicare for all in that 58 percent of Americans still support the concept, in spite of implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Although there is a partisan divide - 81 percent of Democrats support it and 63 percent of Republicans are opposed - it should be noted that 60 percent of independents also support the idea.

Although this poll did not identify reasons for the opinions, it is likely that many who do not support the concept are simply ideologically opposed to social solidarity, though they would likely use different labels (freedom, markets, individual responsibility, etc.). Others may be opposed because they believe the system is working for them and are concerned about the uncertainties of change.

The poll asked Democrats who support Medicare for all whether this issue might affect their vote in the 2016 presidential election. Although they report that only 5 percent of all Democrats consider it to be the most important factor in their vote, in fact most Democrats do consider it to be a factor to some degree, with only 5 percent saying that it is not important.

So now that the Affordable Care Act has been implemented, Americans still want something better. The majority of Americans, including the majority of independents, support Medicare for all. Let’s work on it.

[djean111]

1. I think that Medicare for All is being bitterly fought by the GOP, corporate Dems, and - those

who consider the ACA some sort of "legacy" for Obama, and consider that any attempt to replace it with single payer is willfully messing with that legacy.

[SmittynMo]

2. Don't let anyone bullshit you

There is absolutely no comparison between the ACA and single payer for all.

The ACA, is a very weak insurance policy, often referred to as catastrophic insurance, that carries very high deductibles, which totally defeats the purpose of having insurance.

I would take single payer any day.

This alone is a huge difference between Bernie and HRC. HRC wants to enhance the ACA, which in my opinion cannot be done.

[Dustlawyer]

3. If they had a chronic condition they would support it!

I just read where Phizer jacked up their prices again and one of my medications went up 10%. We already pay 3 times more for RX than all other countries. People who have high medical costs invariably get calls from bill collectors harassing them, ruined credit...

I appreciate the ACA, it took away my pre-existing condition so I am no longer stuck with my employer should I choose to leave, but it is far from perfect and the prices are rising. Many cannot afford it now and that number is growing.

Medical treatment should be a right for everyone. If America is #1 then why is it like this? Why could we afford the best public education and now we cannot? Why could we afford a social safety net and now we cannot?

The answer is the corruption of our government through campaign donations to change the priorities of this country to benefit the extremely wealthy at the expense of the 99%!!! There has been class warfare in this country for 40 years, but only one side has been fighting it. Bernie has been making us aware of this and how to fight back. He understands that it will take more than just getting him elected, it will take all of us to push for reforms like Publicly Funded Elections to attack the root problem, campaign finance! This will restore Representative Democracy from our current situation where politicians represent Donors instead of the people.