“In the face of the pandemic, the only program proving capable of swift, aggressive action to address COVID-19—most recently, by providing financial relief to providers—is the federally run Medicare program.”
That’s how Morning Consult helped explain a new surge in support for Medicare for All. As millions of Americans lose their jobs,
most voters now favor a universal, single-payer plan.
In
my view, that means strengthening Medicare, by adding coverage for vision, dental, hearing, and long-term care; increasing reimbursement rates for Medicare providers in rural and other underserved communities; and lowering the age of Medicare eligibility to 0, as the program’s founders originally proposed. It also means making insurance portable, not dependent on an employer.
The link between health insurance and employment is mostly an accident of history—the product of decisions made in the 1940s. There’s nothing particularly healthy or logical about it.
Today’s system leaves one-quarter of the population uninsured or underinsured, drives half a million families into bankruptcy each year, and costs more than 35,000 Americans their lives.
Health care was in crisis long before this outbreak hit.
We can’t solve those structural problems in the midst of a pandemic. But we’ll never be able to do so as long as the for-profit insurance industry—parroted by the politicians on its payroll—continues to block reform.
Polling now shows
most Americans have had enough. For the first time in nearly a year, Medicare for All commands support from a majority of not only Democrats but independents as well, along with more than 30% of Republicans.
Conquering the coronavirus requires testing and treatment for all; no one should go without care. Let’s remember that lesson—and demand real reform—when the pandemic ends.
Andrew Romanoff
