Los Angeles Times

Consumer Confidential: 'Medicare for all' sounds good, but Democrats need to spell out exactly what they mean

Democratic politicians are increasingly bold about supporting a Medicare-for-all or single-payer healthcare system as a means of extending coverage to the tens of millions of Americans currently lacking insurance.

But two things are quickly becoming clear as presidential wannabes, including Sens. Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, jockey to establish themselves as the Savior of American Healthcare.

First, no one other than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has committed to any details about how a Medicare-for-all or single-payer plan would work. And Sanders' plan is so idealistic, it's a non-starter.

This means voters will largely be left to guess how each candidate would pull off what he or she is promising.

Second, Medicare-for-all advocates desperately need to work on their messaging, because they're allowing conservative opponents to frame the discussion with sky-is-falling

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times5 min read
Climate Change Is Central To Both Pope Francis And California Gov. Newsom. But Do Catholic Voters Care?
ROME — Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's speech on climate change at the Vatican this week gives him an opportunity to align himself and his party with Pope Francis, an influential figure among American Catholics and a leader in the fight against global
Los Angeles Times2 min readCrime & Violence
In Effort To 'Regain Public Trust,' LA County Announces 66 Probation Officers Put On Leave
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Probation Department has announced that 66 officers have been put on administrative leave this year in a series of cases that include allegations of sexual misconduct and the use of excessive force. The announcem
Los Angeles Times4 min read
Doyle McManus: A Lesson From Presidents Biden And Trump — The New Normal Is Nonstop Crises
A poll published by the Economist this month included a finding that was striking yet unsurprising: Almost 7 in 10 Americans believe things in the country have spun out of control. That's a problem for President Joe Biden, who campaigned in 2020 offe

Related Books & Audiobooks