Bernie Sanders
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Bernie Sanders will introduce Medicare for All
Sanders was an original sponsor of Medicare for All, making it a foundational part of his campaign.
2020 US Election
Bernie Sanders
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Context
America's current healthcare system suffers from a host of problems, and changing the system in some way is part of every Democratic candidate's platform.
The Argument
The Medicare for All bill was introduced by Sanders, along with 15 other Senators, in September 2017. It proposes a single-payer healthcare system in the United States.[1] Under this system, theoretically no Americans would have to have health insurance or pay for healthcare. This is a massive shift from the current system in which roughly 8.8 per cent of Americans are uninsured[2] and the average household spending $5000 per year per person on healthcare.[3]
The current system directly leads to deaths of Americans and needs urgently to change. Sanders has consistently shown he is serious about converting to single-payer, and is the person America needs to get them there.
Counter arguments
Single-payer healthcare is not without drawbacks, and many do not believe it is the right option for the United States. Single-payer healthcare services can bring about longer wait times[4], which can lead to higher disease rates or even be the difference between life and death for some patients.[5]
Additionally, Sanders is not the only candidate who supports Medicare for All. Warren also supports Medicare for All.[6] While he first introduced the bill, functionally this does not matter - his support of Medicare for All does not make Sanders a unique candidate.
Proponents
Premises
[P1] A single-payer healthcare system is urgently needed in the United States.
[P2] Sanders is the best candidate to deliver this.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P1] Single-payer healthcare is not necessarily the best option for the United States.
[Rejecting P2] Sanders is by no means the only candidate who can deliver this.
References
- https://www.npr.org/2017/09/14/550768280/heres-whats-in-bernie-sanders-medicare-for-all-bill
- https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/12/16297660/state-of-american-health-care-5-charts
- https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/09/americans-spend-twice-as-much-on-health-care-today-as-in-the-1980s.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/112713/drawbacks-singlepayer-healthcare.asp
- https://edition.cnn.com/2017/09/25/opinions/single-payer-failure-opinion-atlas/index.html
- https://www.politico.com/2020-election/candidates-views-on-the-issues/health-care/medicare-for-all/