‘Medicare by Choice’ floated an alternative to Medicare for All

‘Medicare by Choice’ floated an alternative to Medicare for All 

While Medicare for All remains a popular policy goal among progressives, one group is putting forward its own proposal, “Medicare by Choice,” that it sees as a viable option Democrats can get behind ahead of the 2028 election cycle. 

The Center for Health and Democracy (CHD) helped develop the policy, which would allow everyone to enroll in traditional Medicare regardless of age and would allow employers to select Medicare by Choice as their employees’ workplace benefit.  

It also calls for improving the existing program by adding provisions such as out-of-pocket caps and vision, dental, and hearing benefits. 

“What we’re trying to do here is find a path forward from the [Affordable Care Act] enhanced premium subsidy debate, now those have expired, and find something that in 2028 can kind of unite folks behind it,” CHD Executive Director Rachel Madley, who formerly worked as a staffer for Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), told The Hill.  

While some “good conversations” have been held, no lawmakers in Congress have yet to put their backing behind this policy.  

“Medicare for All,” the proposed single-payer national health care system that would replace private health insurance, proved to be a politically testy item during the 2024 election.  

Former Vice President Kamala Harris left it off her agenda when she became the Democratic nominee for president, despite having previously pushed for such a system. 

And Democrats in Congress indicated they still stand by Medicare for All. A bicameral group of progressives introduced the Medicare for All Act last April. 

“If you live in America, you should be able to go to the doctor when you need to and afford the medicine and treatment you need. Too many families must decide between putting food on the table and getting medical care that they desperately need, and that is why I believe Medicare for All is the best way to fix our health care crisis,” Rep. Debbie Dingell (R-Mich) said in a statement when reached by The Hill. 

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, I’m Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Lawmakers behind bipartisan push for legislation detecting and preventing Alzheimer’s: ‘It’s too expensive not to’

House Reps. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), co-sponsors of the Alzheimer’s Screening and Prevention (ASAP) Act, said Thursday that proactively addressing Alzheimer’s disease is “too expensive” of an issue for Congress to ignore. Appearing at The Hill’s “Getting a Diagnosis ASAP: Progress in Early Alzheimer’s Detection” event on Thursday, the two congressmen discussed …

Top Senate Dems blast proposed ACA rule promoting ‘junk coverage’ that would push estimated 2 million off enrollment

A trio of top Senate Democrats led their colleagues in condemning a proposed rule by the Trump administration that would lift restrictions on the number of nonstandardized plans that insurers in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace can offer and promote catastrophic health plans, which are high-deductible plans meant for worst-case scenarios. In February, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) submitted a …

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Novartis settles with Henrietta Lacks’ estate over use of her ‘stolen’ cells to advance medicine

Novartis has settled a lawsuit by the estate of Henrietta Lacks that alleged the pharmaceutical giant unjustly profited off her cells, which were taken from her tumor without her knowledge in 1951 and reproduced in labs to enable major medical advancements, including the polio vaccine. Details of the agreement, which was finalized in federal …

Local and state headlines on health care:

NJ health insurance plan for teachers faces ‘death spiral,’ Treasury warns (NJ Spotlight News) 

Patients are fed up with new trend in California health care (SFGate) 

Medical Practices question Delaware medical school plan amid doctor shortage (CoastTV) 

A MESSAGE FROM ALLIANCE FOR AGING RESEARCH

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

CDC’s acting chief promises a return to stability in a tumultuous moment (KFF Health News) 

The perimenopause movement sells women the lie that they are ruled by their hormones (Stat) 

Kennedy allies petition to broaden US vaccine injury list (Reuters) 

You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow! 

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