I would like to thank Washington Policy Center for inviting me to be part of this panel. WPC deserves many kudos for transforming their highly successful event into a virtual one because of the pandemic. It is also terrific that my former colleague John Graham is able to be part of this event.

Even though Senator Sanders has dropped out of the race to become the Democratic nominee, he has had a major impact on promoting single payer or Medicare for All as it is more commonly known now. Medicare for All would be a disaster, and is a stepping-stone approach to single payer health care. One proposal is to cut Medicare eligibility age to 60 from 65 – a move even the progressives say will do nothing.

Others support building on the 10-year old Obamacare program and adding a public option into the mix, a government insurance plan that would compete with private insurers. Ultimately, under this plan, the private insurers would be crowded out of the market and we would all end up under Medicare for All.

Health care is a major topic of debate this year. The Covid-19 pandemic has made it even more important. Progressives like Senator Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are pushing Medicare for All as the best solution for dealing with pandemics like Covid-19. As Sanders said, “When I talk about healthcare being a human right…the coronavirus crisis makes that abundantly clear as to why it should be.” Left- wing wunderkind Ocasio-Cortez said of the COVID-19 outbreak, “It absolutely is an argument for Medicare for All.”

The exact opposite is true. We would face long waits, rationed care, high and new taxes, and a doctor shortage. Some liberals are even calling for CovidCare for All. This is just another precursor to Medicare for All.
The January 2020 Gallup poll showed that 35 percent of Americans think candidates’ positions on health care are “extremely important.”

In spite of Senator Bernie Sanders bowing out, support for single payer continues to poll very well. The latest Morning Consult/Politico poll from late March shows that Medicare for All support is at its highest level in nine months – 55 percent versus 54 percent in June 2019. This could be because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I will conclude by outlining a market-based plan based on competition and choice that, I believe, is the best way to achieve universal coverage for all Americans.

Understanding health care is similar to unravelling an onion, many layers and many tearful moments. With a few exceptions, many politicians do not feel comfortable talking about the issue because they find it too complicated.