General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: 'Groundbreaking': Democratic Co-Sponsors Rush Aboard Bernie's Medicare for All Train [View all]DeminPennswoods
(15,286 posts)the healthcare system we have today, single payer could be an easy sell.
I admit to learning this only recently, but the origins of our employer-based health insurance are rooted in the wage and price controls of WWII. Since employers weren't able to offer their employees higher wages, they substituted better benefits. That lead to health insurance premiums being legally pre-tax (no federal income tax) income.
While this is still true today, the business model of more and better benefits is disappearing. Not only are companies offering fewer benefits, but ones they do offer like health insurance have fewer choices and/or more requirements such as mandatory participation in wellness programs and/or higher premiums.
The old manufacturing industries like steel, coal mining, etc., are always trying (and succeeding) in getting out of providing promised benefits like lifetime health insurance and pension payments to retirees.
All this leaves a large population of covered, but vulnerable, Americans. If you framed the question of single payer as "would you like to have higher wages and contribute to a health care system where every American gets health care for a minimum cost or keep what you have and risk losing it/having benefits reduced or lost?" How do you think most Americans would answer?