Democrats Urged to Pursue Medicare for All Amid Republican Cuts to Medicaid and ACA Subsidies
Republicans have pursued cuts to Medicaid and ACA subsidies and aim to eliminate ACA tax credits after the government shutdown, risking loss of coverage and greater emergency-room use.
In response, the author argues that Democrats should go on offense by pursuing full elimination of medical debt and universal healthcare through Medicare for All.
Medicare for All would provide cradle-to-grave universal coverage with no copays, premiums, or deductibles, while allowing private plans as add-ons.
This plan would decouple employment from health coverage, reducing penalties for job changes and layoffs.
Costs would be lowered by removing the middleman in healthcare and enabling government-negotiated drug prices, reducing prescription costs.
Expanding Medicare would broaden the risk pool with younger, healthier people, thus strengthening the program's sustainability and potentially benefiting businesses.
In Michigan, Medicaid serves about 2.3 million people and covers 39% of children; the state faces access challenges highlighted by rural hospital closures.
The author cites Wayne County's $220 billion medical debt elimination as a locally demonstrated feasibility to scale nationally and argues for broader application.
