By Marc H. Lavietes, M.D.
Asbury Park (N.J.) Press, October 1, 2019
The idea that the cost of premiums on the health care exchanges in New Jersey may rise as much as 16% strengthens the argument for passage of Medicare for All. (“Your health premiums need to go up, NJ insurers say,” Sept. 27).
A common argument against Medicaid for All is why should people who like their current health care plan be required to change their plan? This is why: People with plans offered by the exchanges must renegotiate their plans yearly. Does anyone renegotiate their home or auto insurance annually? The rules, benefits and costs of health care plans offered by the exchanges change yearly.
Under the Affordable Care Act, the health care industry continues to increase its profits at our expense. People with employer-based insurance often balk at the idea of having to change their insurance with the passage of Medicare for All. Now however, those people lose their insurance when they change jobs or retire. With Medicare for All, workers would have permanent insurance not linked to employment. Business owners would no longer confront the tedious administrative tasks associated with providing health care.
Every other industrialized nation has a centrally regulated health care system providing universal care, better care than ours and at a lower cost. The notion that this won’t work here is nonsense.
