By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Representative Pramila Jayapal is preparing to present polling data to fellow House Democrats in order to advocate for Medicare for All as a key policy goal. The survey, conducted by GQR Research, revealed that a majority of voters nationally and in battleground districts support Medicare for All. This echoes similar findings from Data for Progress and demonstrates continued public interest in comprehensive healthcare reform. Democrats aim to address the issues of healthcare reform ahead of the 2026 midterms, as the current system leaves millions uninsured and burdened by medical debt.
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Pramila Jayapal is pushing for Democrats to return to Medicare for All. Thank goodness. The whole idea makes perfect sense, both morally and politically. It’s almost mind-boggling how much resistance there has been to this straightforward concept. Some folks who argued against it in the past owe a lot of people a sincere apology.
And let’s be real, the current state of healthcare in the US is a disaster. There are reports of massive profits by the insurance industry, while millions of Americans struggle to afford even basic care. The fact that the healthcare industry raked in nearly half a trillion dollars in profit in a single year is frankly obscene. Then, when you factor in the money the system already consumes, Medicare for All would actually cost less while covering everyone. It’s a no-brainer.
The argument that Medicare for All might not equal the exact same as current healthcare costs isn’t the point. The point is to reduce costs and make it fair for everyone from top to bottom. It cuts out the massive profit margins of the insurance companies, and those companies have been using their profits to buy off politicians and stop any chance of meaningful change.
The benefits are clear: everyone gets healthcare, the for-profit insurance companies that have been denying people’s coverage can go out of business, and it costs less than what we’re paying now. It’s no surprise that the insurance industry is fighting tooth and nail to keep the status quo. Sadly, the GOP doesn’t seem to want people to be healthy, either.
Of course, getting Medicare for All passed is going to be a battle. Even with someone like Richard Nixon advocating for healthcare reform decades ago, it’s still an uphill climb. The Senate filibuster is a major roadblock. It’s just unfortunate that some Democrats are likely to talk about it but not really support it. This leads to the public not being able to understand Medicare.
Unfortunately, the current system is failing. The Affordable Care Act, while a step forward, ultimately benefited the insurance industry and left many people struggling. Medicare, as it exists now, still leaves people with significant out-of-pocket costs, between premiums, deductibles, and copays, and the costs can really add up. So many people have to deal with the complexities of Medicare, many doctors not accepting it, and there are still significant costs even when enrolled.
There is a huge amount of pushback and those who benefit from the existing system will fight hard to maintain it. However, the existing system is failing, and we need a healthcare system that does not bankrupt people.
It’s time for Democrats to stop playing nice with the insurance companies and actually fight for the people. A public option would be a good start. It is crucial to have plans to address critical issues like housing costs.
Medicare for All may be less popular among those happy with their employer-provided insurance. However, the problems are clear, we need to create a system that addresses these issues.