The Washington Post: Senator Bennet “Made The Case Against” Medicare For All

“That Legislation Takes Insurance Away From 180 Million People Who Get It From Their Employer, 80 Percent Of Whom Like It” – Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

WASHINGTON – As Medicare for all-style proposals continue to fuel controversy on the 2020 campaign trail, The Washington Post reports that Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) “made the case against the bill both on the substance and the politics” during a visit to New Hampshire:

Asked about the Medicare-for-all bill that several of his Senate colleagues running for president have co-sponsored, Bennet made the case against the bill both on the substance and the politics.  “That legislation takes insurance away from 180 million people who get it from their employer, 80 percent of whom like it,” he said.  “It takes it away from every single union that has collectively bargained for their health-care plan. It takes it away from 20 million people that have Medicare Advantage who love Medicare Advantage …”

Bennet is the latest in a growing list of Democratic leaders who are sounding alarm bells about Medicare for all-style proposals to scrap America’s existing health care system and replace it with a one-size-fits-all government-run program.  Former Obama White House Chief of Staff and House Democratic campaign chief Rahm Emanuel issued a frank warning last week: “Earth to Democrats: Republicans are telling you something when they gleefully schedule votes on proposals like” Medicare for all.  And current House Democratic campaign chief RepresentativeCheri Bustos recently called Medicare for all “a little scary,” doubling down on the comment in an interview on CNN.  Meanwhile, when asked by Rolling Stone about Medicare for all, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: “And by the way, how’s it gonna be paid for? … All I want is the goal of every American having access to health care.  You don’t get there by dismantling the Affordable Care Act … Anyway, this is not a bumper-sticker war – this is a complicated issue.”

A recent national survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that most voters – including most Democratic voters – want Congress to focus on protecting and improving upon what works in America’s health care system, rather than pushing Medicare for all.  The survey also found that support for Medicare for all plummets once Americans learn how it would impact them, requiring them to pay more in taxes, eliminating the choice and control they have through employer-based and other private coverage, leading to delays for those seeking care or threatening the current Medicare program seniors were promised and paid into.