Public Option
Commentary
Democrats Going All In On ‘Medicare For All’
Democrats have decided to stop worrying and embrace government-run, single-payer health care. On July 19, 70 House members launched a new Medicare for All caucus. A House bill to implement single-payer — H.R. 676 — already has 122 cosponsors, about two-thirds of House Democrats. Democratic National Committee Deputy Chair Rep. Keith Ellison ...
Sally C. Pipes
August 6, 2018
Commentary
Democrats Bet Their 2018 Hopes on Destroying Healthcare
As November’s midterm elections approach, Democrats, even the comparatively centrist members, are embracing government-run healthcare. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, for instance, has officially endorsed a public insurance option, as have other Democrats running in swing districts in Kentucky and Illinois. Meanwhile, single-payer advocates have won Democratic congressional primaries in ...
Sally C. Pipes
June 28, 2018
Blog
When the Public Option Is the Only Option
Single-payer has failed abroad and at home. Yet the call for single-payer from progressives has never been louder. Vermont senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his dedicated followers have been the loudest. In his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, he promised “Medicare for All.” In September 2017, he ...
Sally C. Pipes
June 1, 2018
Commentary
In Progressive America, All Roads Lead to Single-Payer
Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., recently introduced the “Choose Medicare Act,” which would give every American the option to buy into Medicare. Their colleagues have already rolled out three other bills that would provide for a more limited Medicare buy-in, a Medicaid buy-in, and a full-fledged, government-run, ...
Sally C. Pipes
May 14, 2018
Blog
Single-Payer in California: Slowly, Slowly, Catchy Monkey
For now, California’s progressive politicians have judged single-payer as a bridge too far. But that doesn’t mean they’ve given up trying to take over health care. As my Canadian mother used to say, “slowly, slowly, catchy monkey” – or be patient. On March 14, Assembly lawmakers released a report by ...
Sally C. Pipes
March 22, 2018
Commentary
A Public Option Would Lead to Single-Payer
Senate Democrats recently introduced two bills that would create a “public option” — a government-run health plan that would compete against private insurers for the business of shoppers on Obamacare’s exchanges. Proponents claim that this would offer consumers an additional choice — and lead to lower prices. But a public ...
Sally C. Pipes
November 13, 2017
California
California GOP Congressional Delegation Helps Pass Obamacare Repeal
Key to the House Republicans’ victory on Thursday in repealing and replacing Obamacare was the support of many of California’s 14 GOP congressional members, including three who at the last minute co-sponsored an amendment that adds $8 billion more to fund “high risk pools’’ for millions of Americans with pre-existing ...
Tracy Seipel
May 4, 2017
Commentary
ObamaCare’s Unhappy 7th Birthday
As the GOP’s fractious debate over health care reform drags on, some Americans are beginning to look back on ObamaCare through rose-colored glasses. Although voters put in power on Nov. 8, 2016, a party committed to repealing and replacing ObamaCare, public approval for the health law just reached 54% — ...
Sally C. Pipes
March 23, 2017
Commentary
ObamaCare’s Risk Corridor Corruption Never Ends
The Obama Administration just caught a lucky break in its legal war with the insurance industry. A federal court has ruled that the administration doesn’t owe money to Land of Lincoln Mutual Health Insurance Company, a shuttered Illinois health insurer that was promised more than $70 million under the ObamaCare’s ...
Sally C. Pipes
December 12, 2016
Commentary
VA’s Single-Payer Disease Has No Cure
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ beleaguered health-care system remains on life support, more than two years after President Obama promised to fix it. According to a new federal report on the Phoenix VA, 215 veterans recently died while awaiting consults with specialists at the facility. One patient’s death could have ...
Sally C. Pipes
November 21, 2016
Democrats Going All In On ‘Medicare For All’
Democrats have decided to stop worrying and embrace government-run, single-payer health care. On July 19, 70 House members launched a new Medicare for All caucus. A House bill to implement single-payer — H.R. 676 — already has 122 cosponsors, about two-thirds of House Democrats. Democratic National Committee Deputy Chair Rep. Keith Ellison ...
Democrats Bet Their 2018 Hopes on Destroying Healthcare
As November’s midterm elections approach, Democrats, even the comparatively centrist members, are embracing government-run healthcare. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, for instance, has officially endorsed a public insurance option, as have other Democrats running in swing districts in Kentucky and Illinois. Meanwhile, single-payer advocates have won Democratic congressional primaries in ...
When the Public Option Is the Only Option
Single-payer has failed abroad and at home. Yet the call for single-payer from progressives has never been louder. Vermont senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his dedicated followers have been the loudest. In his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, he promised “Medicare for All.” In September 2017, he ...
In Progressive America, All Roads Lead to Single-Payer
Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., recently introduced the “Choose Medicare Act,” which would give every American the option to buy into Medicare. Their colleagues have already rolled out three other bills that would provide for a more limited Medicare buy-in, a Medicaid buy-in, and a full-fledged, government-run, ...
Single-Payer in California: Slowly, Slowly, Catchy Monkey
For now, California’s progressive politicians have judged single-payer as a bridge too far. But that doesn’t mean they’ve given up trying to take over health care. As my Canadian mother used to say, “slowly, slowly, catchy monkey” – or be patient. On March 14, Assembly lawmakers released a report by ...
A Public Option Would Lead to Single-Payer
Senate Democrats recently introduced two bills that would create a “public option” — a government-run health plan that would compete against private insurers for the business of shoppers on Obamacare’s exchanges. Proponents claim that this would offer consumers an additional choice — and lead to lower prices. But a public ...
California GOP Congressional Delegation Helps Pass Obamacare Repeal
Key to the House Republicans’ victory on Thursday in repealing and replacing Obamacare was the support of many of California’s 14 GOP congressional members, including three who at the last minute co-sponsored an amendment that adds $8 billion more to fund “high risk pools’’ for millions of Americans with pre-existing ...
ObamaCare’s Unhappy 7th Birthday
As the GOP’s fractious debate over health care reform drags on, some Americans are beginning to look back on ObamaCare through rose-colored glasses. Although voters put in power on Nov. 8, 2016, a party committed to repealing and replacing ObamaCare, public approval for the health law just reached 54% — ...
ObamaCare’s Risk Corridor Corruption Never Ends
The Obama Administration just caught a lucky break in its legal war with the insurance industry. A federal court has ruled that the administration doesn’t owe money to Land of Lincoln Mutual Health Insurance Company, a shuttered Illinois health insurer that was promised more than $70 million under the ObamaCare’s ...
VA’s Single-Payer Disease Has No Cure
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ beleaguered health-care system remains on life support, more than two years after President Obama promised to fix it. According to a new federal report on the Phoenix VA, 215 veterans recently died while awaiting consults with specialists at the facility. One patient’s death could have ...