Medicare for All gains ground after midterm wave

ER nurse sees system failure

Kim Bogan has worked fifteen years in emergency medicine at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Michigan. She believes the only way to fix American healthcare is to tear it down and start over.

Progressive candidates won on healthcare

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat, made Medicare for All a signature issue in his congressional campaign in Michigan and is now a senator-elect. Progressive candidates campaigned on the policy in Texas, Iowa, Maine and Michigan.

What Medicare for All means

Medicare for All typically refers to a government health program that would guarantee Americans coverage by replacing most or all private insurance. Critics say it will be difficult to pass even after the 2026 midterms.

Voters did not vote for takeover

Jonathan Oberlander, a healthcare reform expert at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, says voters were angry about inflation, corruption and the Iran war.They did not vote to have the government take over health insurance.

“Whatever else people voted for in this midterm election, anger about inflation, anger about corruption, anger about the Iran war, they by and large didn't vote to have the government take over health insurance.”

Supporters see once-in-a-generation moment

Supporters of universal healthcare see this moment as a once-in-a-generation opportunity because Americans are buckling under healthcare costs and hungry for change. Several states, including Oregon, are exploring single-payer systems.

Moderate Democrats see political threat

More moderate Democrats may see Medicare for All's growing popularity as a threat to gains they made in Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina. Passing it would be a huge political risk in red-leaning states.

“If Democrats want to hold those seats, which were very difficult to win, they're probably not interested in passing Medicare for All.”

Industry opposition would be fierce

Michael Cannon, a healthcare economist at the libertarian Cato Institute and Medicare for All opponent, says previous proposals would require millions to give up existing coverage. The healthcare industry would oppose it fiercely.

“If Medicare for All actually had the price levels that Bernie Sanders and Abdul El-Sayed envision, the industry would tear it to shreds.”

Support drops when details emerge

Voters say they support Medicare for All in greater numbers than in nearly a decade.

Former nurse struggles with government help

Jaime Bardenhagen, a former nurse in rural Leelanau County in northern Michigan, has Parkinson's and sialidosis.

Insurance costs force medical delays

Bardenhagen and her husband saw their health insurance costs skyrocket after the Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies expired.

Smaller reforms may be more viable

Sara Collins, a senior scholar at the Commonwealth Fund, says both parties will be under pressure to address the affordability crisis.

Democrats must act quickly on reform

Affordable Care Act premiums are set to rise by double digits next year.Massive cuts to Medicaid are projected to leave seven point five million more people uninsured by twenty thirty-four.

“If the window opens, you better jump right through.”