Progressive Idea of the Week: Medicare for all

If the Republicans do succeed in repealing and replacing Obama Care, the rallying cry for Progressives should be "Medicare for All." Obamacare (The Affordable Care Act) was a good attempt to compromise the many interests that hover around the health industry. Do not forget it was, at first,  largely a Republican plan that Mitt Romney put into practice in Massachusetts.

If it is repealed and replaced with a substandard program, then Progressives should propose a gradual "Medicare for All Program." How it would work, so not to derail the insurance industry and put us in a recession, is to gradually over a ten year period expand Medicare in several steps. First, everyone with a preexisting condition that has a job goes on Medicare and they pay a higher payroll medicare tax unless they are disabled and unable to work. Those people would go on disability. Second. gradually expand eligibility to Medicare recipients downward. The first year to people 63 and older. The second year 61 and older and so forth. The next step would be for families to choose the option when paying their FICA taxes to pay a higher percentage to cover their children. This would be done gradually with families starting with those that have just newborns, then progressing with those with older children in two-year increments. After 10 years, everyone would be on Medicare. Another step would be an overall increase in the payroll tax. This should if regulated properly, not be a cost burden to individuals or employers as they no longer have to worry about insurance companies raising rates more than inflation. The government should have the ability to negotiate drug prices like other nations such as Canada. Finally, people should still have the option to purchase additional supplemental insurance, through Medicare or a private provider.

This is not a proposal for a new entitlement program because people are paying into the system. Medicaid should still be maintained for those in impoverished circumstances but even they pay into the system when they are employed.

Medicare for All's time may be coming and Progressives should champion it.