President Biden has two major health care goals: crush the COVID-19 pandemic and cover the 30 million Americans who remain uninsured. He may have only one chance to accomplish them before his political capital is depleted, says Commonwealth Fund President David Blumenthal, M.D. 

On To the Point, Blumenthal explores how the president’s proposed $1.9 trillion rescue package could accomplish both aims. Together with the executive actions already underway, Biden’s proposal would take on COVID-19 while helping several million more Americans gain coverage through expanded subsidies for purchasing marketplace insurance. 

But Blumenthal believes more could be done. By adding coverage expansion provisions to a reconciliation bill, Biden and his allies could cover more Americans without jeopardizing pandemic assistance.