Yesterday, the goal of Medicare For All took a big step forward as Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced a bill that opens up Medicare to everyone.
Sen. Merkley said, “Every American deserves a popular, affordable, high-quality health care option. Fortunately, we already have exactly such an option -- and it’s called Medicare. This bill creates a Medicare Option For All, putting consumers and businesses in the driver’s seat on the pathway to universal health care.”
There are multiple ways to achieve Medicare For All. Bernie Sanders introduced one version, which he calls “Medicare For All Single Payer." The PCCC was one of its biggest supporters in the media when it was announced. A Medicare Option For All is another version of Medicare For All -- and it provides a clear glide path to single payer.
Our goal is to have all Democrats embrace some version of Medicare For All in 2018 so voters get a clear sense of who is on their side against the big insurance companies.
Sign the petition in support of a Medicare Option For All.
(Then, chip in $3 to Sens. Jeff Merkley and Chris Murphy’s reelection campaigns to show your appreciation for them working with us to make Medicare For All a big 2018 election issue.)
The PCCC worked with Sanders, Merkley, and Murphy behind the scenes to get multiple bills in the mix that would advance the goal of Medicare For All. And we'll do events in Congress and around the nation highlighting the petition signatures we gather with allies.
Yesterday, Sen. Jeff Merkley said, “We are so pleased to have had so many folks work with us on this project. Starting certainly back in the very beginning, PCCC was very involved and is endorsing this bill.”
In 2017, Politico previewed that a Medicare Option For All bill was coming. While endorsing Bernie Sanders' bill, PCCC co-founder Adam Green told Politico:
“It's hard to imagine a better way to make the case for Medicare For All than to give every American the ability to voluntarily buy insurance through Medicare, have millions of people opt in and love it, and tell their friends about it — resulting in millions more people opting in. This is how we defeat right-wing scare tactics, win hearts and minds over time, and put Republicans on defense as they oppose expanding to every American one of the most popular programs in existence.”
Sign the petition calling for a Medicare Option For All.
Then, chip in $3 to Sens. Jeff Merkley and Chris Murphy’s reelection campaigns.
Thanks for being a bold progressive.
-- The PCCC Team
P.S. A Medicare Option For All is popular. VERY popular. Even Republican voters like it. If you're on Twitter, please click to re-tweet this poll done by the Progressive Change Institute: