UPDATED Pramila Jayapal: It’s time for Democrats to get their facts right on Medicare-for-all

Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) is the sponsor of H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019, introduced in February, 2019. On August 1 that bill reached a major milestone: a majority of the House Democratic caucus has signed on to it!

Did you hear that?  Rep. Jayapal’s bill is now the official Democratic Party position in the U.S. House.  One more great victory for the band of warrior sisters known as the Squad. Other versions of Medicare For All that might be floating around will only serve to divide Democrats, and thus ensure another term for Trump (or so the logic goes). Rep. Jayapal also recently wrote an editorial published in the Washington Post to clarify more precisely what is in her bill:

It’s time for Democrats to get their facts right on Medicare-for-all

In the wake of the second Democratic presidential debate, it is clear that Medicare-for-all has become a defining issue of the 2020 election. Earlier this year, when I introduced our comprehensive, 120-page “Medicare for All Act of 2019,” I expected attacks from big pharma and for-profit insurance companies. But I did not expect misrepresentations from Democratic presidential candidates about what the bill is and is not.  

Let’s be clear about the scale of this crisis. The United States currently spends an astronomical $3.6 trillion per year on health care — almost double what peer countries spend — and it is set to increase within 10 years to $6 trillion annually. Pharmaceuticals such as basic insulin cost up to 10 times less in Canada for the exact same drugs. Approximately 500,000 Americans turn to bankruptcy each year because they cannot afford medical costs — and that includes people with insurance.  

With so much at stake, facts matter. So let’s get them right.

Fair use does not allow me to publish her entire editorial, therefore I will try to summarize Rep. Jayapal’s six key points, and her elaborations on each one:

1. “It is a myth that Americans love private insurance.” Most Americans are deeply frustrated with our current system. Polls can be deceptive. “when polls accurately describe Medicare-for-all, and explain that you can keep your doctor or hospital” support for MFA is strong.  “People ... want to know they can keep their doctors and hospitals, even if they switch or lose their jobs. Medicare-for-all would let them do so.”  
2. “It’s wrong to assert that taxes will rise without talking about what health care currently costs Americans in premiums, co-pays and deductibles.”  Rep. Jayapal’ suggests different wording, such as: “Would you be willing to pay more in taxes each month if you saved more money by not paying private insurance premiums, deductibles and co-pays and were guaranteed high-quality health care?”  
3. “It is simply false that labor unions don’t want Medicare-for-all.” Unions “recognize that the rising costs of insurance premiums are directly related to stagnating wages” and reduce their power at the bargaining table.  “Take a look at the unprecedented number of unions that have endorsed our bill.”  
4. “Comparisons of Medicare-for-all to the GOP’s push to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act are simply unfounded.”“We can strengthen the ACA and work toward Medicare-for-all at the same time. Even former president Barack Obama agrees.”  
5. “We simply cannot expect to bring down the costs of health care in the United States without taking on the for-profit insurance and pharmaceutical corporations, which are raking in billions of dollars at the cost of American lives.” For-profit insurance companies are a ”middleman that eats up 25 to 30 percent in administrative waste and profits.”   To obtain quality care for everyone at a reasonable cost,“Medicare-for-all is the only answer.” [I am not making this up. Also see my own diary on this topic:  Wendell Potter: Harris needs to rethink her plan to put private insurers in charge of Medicare.  Everyone who has been burned by our current health care system can see clearly that for-profit insurance companies do not make good allies. Potter states that these companies “put profits before patients”. Private insurers have a history of refusing life-saving treatment to long-time policy holders in order to improve their own bottom lines.  Shocking but true]  
6. “Democratic candidates should stop using one-liners from industry front groups and Republican playbooks — such as “Medicare-for-all would shutter hospitals," or telling seniors that “Medicare goes away as you know it. All the Medicare you have is gone.” “ These assertions are often made by those with some kind of financial stake in the current system with the objective of increasing fear and uncertainty.  “I’ve spoken with several hospital CEOs who see Medicare-for-all as a lifeline for their hospitals — particularly safety-net and rural hospitals that are barely surviving under the current system.”  Furthermore, Medicare For All is an improved version of today’s Medicare, especially for seniors who will receive “additional benefits such as dental, vision, hearing and long-term care.”

Once again, Rep. Jayapal’s bill is now the official Democratic Party position in the U.S. House on the second most important issue to Democratic and Democratic leaning voters, after the climate crisis.

Misrepresentation of anything in this bill by any member of the Democratic Party should be condemned strongly and swiftly.  When such misrepresentations are made, it is a safe bet that $$$ flowing from rich and powerful insurance and pharmaceutical companies is involved. Caveat Emptor.