Medicare-for-All Stinks, But Employer-Based Care Is Bad Too

Some Democrats aren't jumping to endorse Medicare-for-All. In the most recent primary debate on September 12, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O'Rourke, and Pete Buttigieg all criticized Medicare-for-All for effectively eliminating private insurance plans, particularly employer-based ones. Republicans, such as Paul Ryan, have also attacked Medicare-for-All along these lines. That makes sense, because over 156 million Americans receive health insurance through their work.

Conservatives and moderate Democrats rightly argue that Medicare-for-All is flawed. And there are good political reasons to highlight how the policy will force change on those 156 million Americans, whether they want it or not.