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Partly due to confusion around the health care reform plan, Americans are now seeking clarity on what is the best solution to solving the country’s health care woes.
US Senator Bernie Sanders hopes to capitalize on the moment by introducing a “political type campaign” to drive forward single-payer health care by 2020.
Support for universal coverage has grown in recent months. But does a “Medicare for all” type program solve America’s health care scenario?
Bernie Sanders seems to think so.
“We're going to put together a grassroots movement that organizes people in all parts of this country much like we did during the presidential race,” Sanders wrote.
He added, “There will be rallies, buttons, bumper stickers, shirts and most importantly people organizing in their communities across the country.”
Once thought to be too socialist for the mainstream, Democrats are coming together to support the single-payer plan which will also serve as a rallying cry for the Democrats’ efforts to win back one or both chambers in 2018's midterm elections.
What remains to be seen is if a single-payer system will be sustainable for taxpayers.
Sanders’ camp reports that American taxpayers will have to cough up $13.8 trillion over the first 10 years.
The nonpartisan Urban Institute disagrees with that figure, reporting that the single-payer system would cost the federal government more like $32 trillion over the first decade, requiring an average annual tax increase of $24,000 per household.
Regardless of the cost, 45 million Bernie Sanders supporters will undoubtedly make waves in support of the soon-to-be announced legislation.
Sen. Kamala Harris was one of the first Democrat to announce she'll co-sponsor Sen. Bernie Sanders' single-payer health care while vocal support for universal coverage continues to grow among other Democrats in Congress, though the party is far from united on the issue.
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