Yes, fighting for national single payer would be best. But until Democrats are in the right position to make that the law of the land, what do we do?
Given the importance of the Affordable Care Act’s Individual mandate to have health insurance to keep insurance markets stable, states dominated by Democrats like California can fight back and improve their state economy at the same time.
So if Republicans end the Individual mandates as part of “Tax Reform” these states should do the following:
- Have the state put in the equivalent state income tax to match the tax penalty that was removed by Republicans for those that go uninsured.
- Now the state gets those tax revenues to use as it wishes.
- When the state’s consumers conclude that it would be better to buy insurance than pay the penalty, many will get Federal subsidies if it is insurance or 100% Federlly paid Medicaid so this does not cost the state or state residents anything.
- Much of these Federal subsidies will find its way into the local states economy which is good for jobs in the state and tax revenue from those jobs.
Republican state will not do this — so for states where Democrats lead the government, we can demonstate again how Democrats govern better.
This would be a great way for elected Democrats to fight back and win.