Young Democrats of Maryland Back Medicare for All — Call on Cardin & Van Hollen to Join Sponsorship
At a recent meeting, the Young Democrats of Maryland Executive Board voted unanimously to support Medicare for All. Young Democrats of Maryland (YDM) is the official youth arm of the Democratic Party in Maryland. The organization’s membership includes Marylanders ages 14–36 throughout the state.
Medicare for All, the proposed single-payer healthcare system that would guarantee health insurance for all Americans, is gaining momentum in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Introduced by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act has 120 cosponsors in the House of Representatives, including Maryland Reps. Brown, Cummings, Raskin, and Sarbanes. The Senate version of the bill, proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), has 16 cosponsors. Maryland Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen are not among them. That must change.
Young people in particular support the single-payer healthcare model. A Pew study this summer found that 65 percent of Americans ages 18–29 believe that it is the federal government’s responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage. Among Democrats in this age group, 89 percent agree with that statement, and 66 percent specifically support a single-payer program.
Globally-minded Millennials know that the U.S. spends more on healthcare per person, and as a percentage of gross domestic product, than any other advanced nation in the world, yet U.S. health outcomes consistently lag behind those of other countries. Americans are more likely to go without needed healthcare because of costs compared to adults in other high-income countries. Many Americans, especially young people, believe it’s high time that our government ensure access to healthcare, and the Young Democrats of Maryland are among many who support Medicare for All.
What the current bill does -
Under the current Democratic bill Medicare would expand the number of coverage options and at the same time eliminate deductibles, copays and premiums. By eliminating these aspects of the current health care system we will greatly increase the likelihood that Americans, especially younger Americans, will go to see their doctor for preventative care before they develop costly major health issues.
Many people, especially Republicans, have raised alarms about the cost of this new proposal. However it is worth pointing out that if passed, this bill, would not go into full effect overnight. In the first year the Medicare eligibility would be lowered to the age of 55. This lowering of the age at the first phase is something that actually has bipartisan support. Following the first phase the age would drop to 45 and then to 35 during the next two years. In the fourth year everyone would be covered.
What would happen if this bill passes -
If the Medicare for All bill passes and does in fact become law the following will happen:
- We will ensure that no one in America goes bankrupt because they got sick because everyone will have access to good and quality health insurance.
- Out of pocket expenses, the main reason so many people who currently have insurance aren’t taking advantage of preventative care services, would go down for most Americans, especially does who cannot afford it.
- Health care costs would drop for the entire country. America has come to believe that huge and expensive health care costs means that we are getting good health care. That could not be further from the truth. In fact studies have shown that as the cost for health care has increased, the quality of it has actually decreased. Passing this bill and then allowing the government to negotiate on behalf of consumers will drastically bring down the cost while at the same time also increasing access for people who need it best.
