WASHINGTON, DC – “If you thought Obamacare was hazardous to your health and your pocketbook, think again. 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls are full of ideas on how to give the government even more control over your medical needs and their rallying cry seems to be ‘damn the cost; full speed ahead’,” says Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].
The threat of ‘Medicare for All’ becoming a reality, should Democrats win big in 2020, has rattled the stock markets in recent weeks. This, despite the fact that the presidential election is more than a year and half away.
Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, took the lead in making universal healthcare an issue for the next presidential election. But, it didn’t take long before his rivals for the Democratic nomination took up the cause. A growing field of hopefuls, including, Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and Kamala Harris of California have jumped aboard the single-payer bandwagon.
“Kamala Harris, in fact, says she’s in favor of putting private healthcare insurers out of business altogether,” Weber points out.
It may not be likely that universal healthcare becomes a reality in the foreseeable future but, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF] survey, the notion is not as unpopular as many might think. The poll “found broad support for proposals that expand the role of public programs like Medicare and Medicaid,” according to KFF.
Weber notes that the poll showed respondents identifying themselves as Democrats were far more likely to favor government intervention in America’s healthcare system.
The AMAC chief says, “despite the reality that Medicare is not self-supporting and is headed for insolvency in 7 years, progressives list it high up on their wish lists. But, none of them, including the leader of the pack, Bernie Sanders, have yet to provide a realistic answer to the questions: how and who will pay for a Medicare for All scheme. It is estimated that the cost would be prohibitive; somewhere north of $32 trillion over ten years. But Sanders has yet to explain the financing aspects of the proposal. Lacking a credible fiscal rationale for nearly doubling the federal budget to pay for his plan, Sanders says what we need is ‘a vigorous debate as to the best way to finance our Medicare for All legislation’.”
Weber is also concerned that a switch to government run care will slow down the progress the medical community has made in the treatment of the most threatening illnesses. “We’re living longer and healthier than ever but it will take development of new, more effective ways of treating patients if we are to fully reap the benefits of medical research in the future. “
ABOUT AMAC
The Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] [https://amac.us], with 1.7 million members, is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at https://amac.us/join.
Single-Payer (what the “Progressives” (Socialists) call Medicare for All) is designed to completely replace both Medicare and Medicaid programs currently in existence. This has been well documented in Sanders’ own campaign proposals for years now. It has also been the ultimate endgame of Democrats for decades. Obamacare merely being the opening salvo that was designed to fail in order for the Democrats to be able to propose their ultimate solution of Single-Payer.
Both Medicare and Medicaid programs would be completely shut down. Their existing funds transferred to help partially fund the new, so-called Medicare for All program. Along with a series of existing, across the board taxes raised or new taxes created to attempt to pay for the wildly expensive socialist endeavor. Whatever you are currently used to receiving in the form of medical care under existing Medicare for Medicaid will be changed to reflect whatever services are provided under single-payer. Even Sanders has admitted that taxes will have to be raised significantly to pay for this, as well as the rest of the Socialist dream list of “free” proposals. Since all single-payer systems rely on the strict rationing of care (access to specialists, drugs, procedures, expensive medical diagnostic equipment, etc.), you will be getting substantially less. Unless you have been living in a cave for decades, this should not come as a revelation to anyone here. What is usually glossed over in many of these articles is that there will be a rapid attrition of quality doctors and nurses, as has been the case in other single-payer countries. So quality of care will fall off dramatically. Medical research and innovation will also suffer under this proposed system.
Sanders and the other Socialists have also realized that to force the public to accept their vision of “healthcare as a right”, they also will completely eliminate choice by outlawing private healthcare insurance. So no more employer provided or individual health care insurance, along with the elimination of Medicare Advantage plans. So everyone, except the ruling elite, which is always the case in these Utopian exercises, will be subjected to DMV-style medical care. The goal being NOT to provide the best health care outcomes based on best known medical practices, but rather provide a universally poor, but equally distributed, healthcare service as defined by some medically illiterate government bureaucrat focused solely on budget costs. All delivered to you at substantially higher overall costs.
Remember, all that stands between this socialist vision of the future and the American people is President Trump. Any Democrat elected to the White House in 2020 would herald in every “aspirational” program being mentioned by the 20 so-called Democrats running for President and their rabid counter-parts in control of the House of Representatives. Elections matter. So get engaged and get out there and ensure none of these Democrats get to enact their socialist vision for America.
Like so many liberal proposals such as the green new deal these are FOOLS’ GOLD.. they’re not reading between the lines and don’t feel the crisis from a medical professional’s point of view. Medical professionals today feel like hostages of the public because of the ultra liberal regulations about delivery of services to the public which local Department of Health is mandating. I think some may even feel like public servants or even that there is an attempt to make them Slaves of the patients.. Save the Planet? How so when our very homes are being threatened by migrants..??? Their priorities are dangerously skewed and irrational as if speaking ex-cathedra from another World – an ideal World.. We’re not quite there yet.. They need to see the implications of what they’re preaching and need to be told “first things first”… to often looking a finished products when in reality they’re not humanly possibly except maybe in poetry or fictional literature.. Castles in the air, for kings and queens of the castles at home.. This is somnambulism or daydreaming and is totally irrelevant to the general population.
THE DOCTOR WILL NOT SEE YOU NOW …
If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.
If you like your medical plan, you can keep your medical plan.
Just ask any Canadian/European how they like their “Socialist” medical plan.
CASE CLOSED.
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#TRUMP2020 – Deus Vult !
I just can’t understand why the choice between Love of Government and Love of People doesn’t fall squarely in the People’s camp. For today’s liberal politicians like Sanders, Harris, et al, the end they’re aiming for justifies any means whatsoever to get there. Does bankrupting this country and turning all of us into mindless but obedient automatons sound good to you?!
I’m healthy, thank goodness, but the hoops I’ve had to jump through to get two simple generic medications—since I became eligible for Medicare—is frustrating beyond belief. Example: the mail-delivered refill I called for last week now requires a trip to the doctor’s office. I’ve been on the same medication, same dose, for years…and now I have to make an appointment? Of course, I will run out of pills before the next delivery…so I’ll have to get approval from the doctor to pick up a month’s worth from a local pharmacy, which I’ll have to pay for. I wonder how much better or efficient the care will be (ha!) under MFA…?
LET’S KEEP HEALTH CARE PRIVATE. Any time the government gets involved IN ANYTHING, the costs “necessarily skyrocket”. Doctors and insurance companies, like any other business competing in the private sector, HAVE to deliver something better or cheaper than the next guy down the street in order to stay open for business. Be sure to explain these things to your kids or grandkids, or anyone who needs guidance at the polls. We MUST keep Republicans in the majority.
It wass et up in 1966 medicade and medicare, medicare is for seniors who paid into it while they were working and medicade
is for the people below the poverty level , and they get this already.lets keep it that way.
If they are so hell bent on leather to pass this make sure ever member of congresses health plan is included in this
How to finance Medicare For All and the other insanity the Progressive-Socialists want? Well, that’s easy!
They will just tax the working citizens at 200%.
“Wait,” you say, “how’s that even possible?”
They take 100% of your income PLUS 100% of your possessions. There.
Welcome to Socialist utopia.
Adolf Hitler did this exact same thing in Germany after taking control it led to the execution of
the Mentally challenged and physically disabled because they did not fit His idea of the Master Race.
And since the Socialist Democrats are pushing this scheme makes You wonder what they have planned
They already want abortions up to and after birth Will they follow Hitlers ways and exterminate the
Mentally challenged or physically challenged or People with Downs Syndrome. And what will be the
date at which a person will no longer be allowed medical care because they are Too Old.
Do you even realize how involved the federal government is/has been involved in health care since the early 90’s? How many of you see a PA instead of your doctor? Surprise. Can you even find a doctor in private practice anymore? Wake up!!!!!
“Sanders says what we need is ‘a vigorous debate as to the best way to finance our Medicare for All legislation’.” Yea, kind of like the vigorous debate we had when Obamacare was rammed down our throat.
Just around the corner from 65 and this Stupid Squaw Baby Killer wants to give my medicare to everybody !! Dumb Skank liberal progressive commie lover from the Dumocrat Party. They have already destroyed the greatest healthcare on the planet with their ObamieCare.
are these people that stuped the government don’t have any money now what will it be if they pay for every ones health care
No Americans cannot afford that. When we where21 we took out our own policy.I made $1.59
Cents. My husband gait the GI Bill we paid insurgence and bills first if there was anything left then we could buy something extra
I am 100% against Socialism and this stupid Medicare for All garbage. Like many my age, I worked long and hard to pay for and earn both Medicare and Social Security. I pay for Part B (the cost keeps going up and either eats up any COLA most years) and I pay for my supplemental as part of my retirement package which includes Part D. I am very happy with what I have and my coverage. I DO NOT want things to change for me. I support working on making insurance more affordable and lowering healthcare costs and believe that one possible solution is to open up the private insurance across state lines to build more competition and lower costs. Employers would be able to look at group insurance again for employees like before Obamacare just about killed that availability and sent many employees to part-time status to keep from having to provide coverage. Obamacare sent premiums soaring for people that were not eligible for a discount and unrealistic deductibles before full coverage kicks in. I know that it is difficult when you have to go without insurance as I was stuck in that position when I was much younger (fortunately very healthy except for having to pay $10,000 for a necessary surgery in my early 30’s), but with the size of the deductibles all you could afford is insurance for major things and pay for the rest out of pocket. I also think we need to maintain an affordable insurance plan for those with pre-existing conditions which could possible work through an insurance pool where every insurance company was required to take a fair share of those patients making the load not as much of a hardship or provide them with Medicaid that so many participate in. Whatever we do, we need to exclude illegal immigrants for our health system (except in an emergency) and not allow them to utilize the emergency rooms like a clinic because they don’t get charged which increases the cost for insured patients and causes long waits for patients that are legitimately there.
So that is my thoughts on the subject and we could possibly require frontal lobotomies for Politicians as well.
NO, NO, NO Leave Medicare and Medicaid ALONE!!!! I don’t trust those Demos at all! And even if I did, I would still say NO!!
These people are insane…..there is NO Constitutional authority for the gummint to be running ANY healthcare, welfare, social justice or welfare programs…..IF the gummint was tossed out of all these areas, we wouldn’t have nearly the national debt we currently have. The feds are supposed to PROVIDE for the common defense….they are to only PROMOTE the common welfare….Perhaps there should be a Comprehension test for anybody wanting to be elected to a federal office prior to them being able to run…Because it would seem almost ALL dims, and several repubs don’t know squat about the Constitution….(and that goes for federal judges as well!!!!)
If politicians sign up for Medicare with no strings attached, I may consider it.
Sure! Medicare for all who have worked all their lives and paid into it. All those liberal bottom feeders will just have to find jobs, and there are plenty to go around thanks to Trump!!! You can’t change the rules in the middle of the game – period. End of discussion.
This abolishes private insurance. You will have no say so in who treats you or if you even get treatment. If it’s so great, why do so many Canadians come into the US to get medical treatment! It’s a sucker deal.
How will such a Utopian concept be paid for???
medicare for all that pay into the system. the incarcerated should be able to vote. the incarcerated should have their right to have arms returned to them. sounds STUPID when you read/say/ think about it out loud, does it not?
I’m for medicare for all ,as long as registered liberals , democrats and all the people in the house and senate pay for it and nothing comes out of my pocket. If congress can figure it out that way – Sure go for it. Oh , one more thing if it’s medicare for ALL ,then all of congress has the same plan as the rest of the country.
AMAC needs to “come clean” about medicare for all. To date NO ONE has produced honest figures showing that medicare for all would be a fiscal disaster!!!! In the end, it might well be, but playing with numbers to try and show a reality that has not yet been proven is no better than what the other side has been doing. Remember America saves a TONNE of money if it no longer has to pay for dozens of health care plans and demands that everyone including Congress participate!
No to Medicare for all
Want to know what the proposed medical for all would look like? Look at obozocare & the VA .
Congress can’t even balance the nation’s budget as it is so how do they think they can pile on health care for everyone! I realize there are many people who have a hard time affording health care but I also know a lot of them “can’t afford” health care because they choose to spend their money for other things that are not life and death necessary, such as expensive cell phones and cell phone plans, vacations, alcohol, cigarettes, eating out, etc. I know, everyone has a right to those things. I grew up poor. I had a right to them also, I just couldn’t afford them so I didn’t have them. Instead of whining about it I figured out how to work hard, get an education, earn money and buy what I wanted. Today I’m not filthy rich but I live in a nice house that’s paid for, have money in the bank and a healthy retirement fund, a car that’s paid for and live comfortably. I could live higher on the hog, so to speak, but I live more conservatively with purpose to have money if or when minor disasters strike that insurance might not cover. If people chose to spend their money having fun they cry no fair when they get sick and don’t have money to pay the doctor, it’s their fault and their’s alone and it shouldn’t be my place to bail them out. I don’t mind helping those who can’t help themselves but I’m pretty quick to withdraw my help with the beggar shows up with a new I-Phone that I forego buying so I can afford health insurance.
The libs will do or say anything to get elected to public office, we have to stop them. They will ruin this great country, their crazy
Obamacare cost me $8000. Had to dip into retirement to pay it. Thank God I am out of it. Do I really trust the government to do healthcare??
Does government run health care work? Take a look at the VA. The VA is the perfect example of how
government can turn health care into an expense mess that serves only the people it employs. The veterans
who this systems serves get second rate care (for the most part) yet the taxpayer pays for first tier service.
Tampa VA’s James Battle is a perfect example of an incompetent, drawing an inflated salary and bonuses.
This clown should be the poster boy for why government run health care WILL NOT WORK !!!!
I believe that only the people that paid into the system (ie worked) should receive MEDICARE, I also think that MEDICAID should be Dissolved, Medicaid was designed to help people that REALLY REALLY needed it now it is being abused and the freeloaders and ENTITLEMENTs think they should get it when they haven’t even contributed.
You have to earn your way people, this country can not take care of everyone any more.
10 reasons why ‘BernieCare’ will NEVER work…..
1. If all constraint to medical services is removed with no deductibles or copays, the medical services delivery system will be over-run, as would any ‘free’ system
2. With such demand, wait times will get very long for even the simplest procedures. Simple primary care appointments will likely be weeks or even months out
3. Emergency rooms will be perpetually overflowing
4. Medical personnel: Drs, nurses, techs, therapists…will be massively over-worked and pay reduced. Fewer will enter the field leading to reduced quality and shortages
5. Medical inflation due to such overwhelming demand, will consistently be high single or low double-digit for several years, thus
6. This program will become insanely expensive
7. Fraud and waste will rival many country’s GDPs. Abuse of the system through bribery, theft and cheating will become a national past time
8. The wealthy, including Congress persons, will not tolerate this and so will demand their own ‘self-pay’ system and build their own exclusive facilities and hire their own Drs and nurses, creating a two-tier medical system, with the best-and-brightest medical personnel working in the private system of healhcare
9. Healthcare facilities will have the look, feel and smell of public subway stations, post offices and prisons. It’ll be depressing
10. The overall health of the nation will not improve.
Bernie talking to a cheering crowd reminds me of the public speeches and promises given by Hugo Chavez.
Nothing free it cost us all young or old we as individuals need the choice to choosing what is best for us and our families not government control ( Obama care )
So I assume that means that also all agree that Obamacarewas a failure!!
If the Government can regulate Health Care, The Government has their hand on the plug that determines whether you LIVE OR DIE!!!!
Yet another effort to destroy our Constitutional Republic by the Democrat-Socialists, this time by taking over 20% of the economy (health care) and outlawing the ability of any individual American to use their own money to buy their own health care. It is fundamentally immoral to seize the fruits of an individual’s labor and give those resources to an uncaring and undeserving “collective”. That philosophy, that the individual must be sacrificed for the collective, is precisely what both Hitler and Stalin were advocating. It was immoral and wrong then, and remains immoral and wrong today. It’s not my job to pay for someone else’s health care, housing or educational expenses. All of these Democrat-Socialist candidates are trying to buy votes with these pandering proposals to pay for everyone’s big life expenses, whether they work or not. It is insane. Socialism does NOT work and never has worked.