Before this pandemic is over, nearly a quarter of Americans could lose their jobs and their health insurance. What “choices” does that leave them?
One option is COBRA, whereby laid off employees can opt on to their workplace health plans by paying the full cost of premiums. That is, if the employer still offers health insurance. The national average for premiums is $20,500 per year.
Another option is to buy a plan on the Affordable Care Act exchange, but these also come with outrageous price tags. A Blue Shield Bronze PPO has a deductible up to $12,600 per year; Aetna’s Silver Copay HMO has a $7,000 deductible. Sadly, millions newly unemployed workers will join the 30 million Americans who were already — all risking medical bankruptcy from a single illness or injury.
What’s the best way to cover the millions of Americans who are losing their insurance every week? The answer is hiding in plain sight: Medicare.
Medicare’s infrastructure is already built. Nearly every hospital, clinic, and doctor’s office in the nation accepts Medicare on behalf of 60 million beneficiaries.
We can improve Medicare’s coverage to provide all medically necessary care, plus free choice of any doctor or hospital. No enrollment periods, no deductibles. Then, expand Medicare to cover everybody regardless of age — Medicare For All.
Wash your hands, wear a mask, practice social distancing and fight for a national health program that can address public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. We can’t afford to wait any longer.
Jan Phillips
Durango, CO