If you’ve been following American politics at all in the last few years, you’ve probably heard the term “Medicare for All” thrown around quite a bit—by politicians or bad actors who spread disinformation about it.
So what exactly is it, and how has the fight progressed?
If you’re a progressive, you already know all of this. I created this page to educate people who might not be familiar with the concept of universal healthcare. They may have only heard about it from media pundits or podcasters who bash it for being “woke” or who lie about it “costing too much.” (When, in reality, Medicare For All would save the country billions of dollars.)
Let’s talk about where it started and where the movement is now.
The Birth of an Idea
While universal healthcare might seem like a new “woke” concept, it’s actually been around in American politics for over a century. President Theodore Roosevelt included it in his platform way back in 1912! He believed that a strong country should have healthy people. What a great way of looking at it!
But the modern Medicare for All movement really kicked into high gear during Bernie Sanders‘ 2016 presidential campaign, when he made it a cornerstone of his platform.
The idea builds on Medicare, the popular government health insurance program for seniors that’s been around since 1965.
The basic concept? Expand that coverage to everyone, regardless of age. Treat healthcare as a basic human right. We have over 60,000 people dying every year in this country because they don’t have health insurance. The wealthiest country in the world with state-of-the-art medical facilities, has citizens who are dying only because they didn’t have health insurance.
In America, you can’t get, or afford, medical care without insurance. We are also a country that ties our health insurance to employment—a way to force Americans to work. So if you don’t have a job and can’t afford the high premiums for a private health insurance plan, you’ll just die if you get a terminal illness or are seriously injured.
Since it’s a requirement in order to access medical care, it should be considered a basic right of all Americans: access to healthcare. That’s where Medicare For All comes in. Bernie even made it less complex and hassle-free by intertwining universal healthcare and a government health insurance that already exists! The government just needs to allow all citizens to access it. Not just people over 65, or who have certain disabilities.
For a government that likes to deny Progressive ideas because they are “too complicated”, this is perfect! There’s already a department fully staffed with employees, and a network of doctors all over the country that accept Medicare.
It’s literally as simple as saying “All citizens have it now”. The tough part is changing a healthcare system that is privatized.
What Would Medicare for All Actually Do?
Picture this: You wake up feeling sick. Instead of wondering whether you can afford to see a doctor or if they’re “in-network,” you just… go. No premiums, no deductibles, no copays. That’s the core conept of Medicare for All.
Here’s what it would mean in practice:
Every American would have comprehensive health coverage
All essential medical services would be covered (think doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, mental health care, dental, vision – the works)
Private insurance companies would largely be eliminated from the healthcare equation
Healthcare would be funded through our taxes instead of premiums and out-of-pocket costs (You should know that in countries with universal healthcare and other great policies, they pay more in taxes, but they say it’s worth it when you look at how much money they save in doctor visit copays, prescription copays, and health insurance premiums. I just want you to be informed when you encounter someone with the usual talking points about why we are the only country without Medicare for All.)
Where Are We Now?
Here’s the truth: Medicare for All faces some pretty steep hurdles. While polls show that the majority of Americans support the general concept of universal healthcare, getting there is complicated.
The healthcare industry makes up about one sixth of the U.S. economy, and changing that system in a capitalist country is like trying to turn around a cruise ship in a swimming pool – it’s not exactly easy. Insurance companies, some healthcare providers, and many politicians have pushed back hard against the idea. Learn the truth about why they push back.
As of 2024, we’ve seen some movement at the state level. States like California and Vermont have explored their own versions of single-payer healthcare (another term used for universal healthcare), though they’ve run into funding and implementation challenges. At the federal level, while Medicare for All bills have been introduced in Congress, they haven’t made it to a floor vote. See our page about getting money out of politics to learn why it hasn’t even been voted on.
What’s Next?
The conversation around Medicare for All isn’t going away anytime soon. More Americans are struggling with medical debt than ever before, and healthcare costs keep rising. In 2021, Americans had at least $220 billion in medical debt. While full Medicare for All might not be right around the corner, we’re seeing growing support for expanding healthcare access through other means:
Lowering the Medicare eligibility age
Creating a public option to compete with private insurance
Expanding Medicaid coverage (Some Republican governors refuse to expand Medicaid in their states. Instead they send back the federal funding they receive that was meant to give more people access to healthcare. It makes absolutely no sense not to do something you’ve been provided with the funding to do. It comes down to partisan politics—Democratic Presidents are sending the funding, and the Republican party’s disdain for us “poors” and the concept of Welfare and government assistance as a whole. WE pay taxes to the government and then they want to deny us something because they don’t want to pay for it. It’s OUR money! Republican-led states have the highest rates of uninsured people in their states. Yet those people continue to vote Republicans back in charge.
Strengthening the Affordable Care Act (Donald Trump and Republicans have been trying to repeal it for years, along with the part that prevents health insurance companies from being able to deny anyone because of pre-existing conditions. Speaker Mike Johnson recently told a crowd they were definitely going to do it if Trump won the 2024 election. And he did.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re all in on Medicare for All or skeptical about making the change, one thing’s clear: our healthcare system needs work. The debate over Medicare for All has pushed important questions about healthcare access and affordability into the spotlight.
So what happens next? That’s up to voters, activists, and politicians to figure out. But at least now you know what everyone’s talking about when Medicare for All comes up at the Thanksgiving dinner table. You can join us in the fight for this and other positive change by becoming a member of our community. It’s free to join!
Want to learn more? Check out official government sources or healthcare policy research organizations for the latest developments in healthcare reform.
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Also be sure to check out Getting Money Out of Politics to learn the truth about why our politicians won’t support Medicare for All (besides Bernie and Progressives in Congress).
