Sen. Bernie Sanders’ “Medicare for all” plan got a severe reality check.
A new analysis found that the plan from the Vermont Senator would increase government health care spending by $32.6 trillion over the next decade, according to an Associated Press report.
A study by the Mercatus Center, a libertarian policy center at George Mason University in Virginia, Sanders’ plan which builds on Medicare would lead to unprecedented tax increases as the government steps in to fund what employers and consumers now pay for health care.
“Medicare for all” bill estimated at $32.6 trillion over 10 years, study says https://t.co/wBJ7M0MwOH pic.twitter.com/Klee4Jg8pP
— Bloomberg (@business) July 30, 2018
While administration and drug costs would see some savings, spending would ultimately be driven up with an increased demand for care, the report found.
Study: ‘Medicare for all’ bill estimated at $32.6 trillion https://t.co/F3YXckTcUA pic.twitter.com/LedLf8FtFD
— Boston Herald (@bostonherald) July 30, 2018
No copays and deductibles would be required for medical services under Sanders’ plan, which would also relegate the insurance industry to a smaller role.
The author of the study, Charles Blahous, a senior economic adviser to former President George W. Bush and a public trustee of Social Security and Medicare for former President Obama, warned of the “transformative” effect on the federal government.
“Enacting something like ‘Medicare for all’ would be a transformative change in the size of the federal government,” he said.
For perspective, the entire federal budget is $4 trillion, revenues are $3.3 trillion. Bernie’s fantasy Medicare for All plan would consume close to 100% of federal revenue. https://t.co/B2XntFqRFh
— Drew Cline (@DrewHampshire) July 30, 2018
Attn: @SenSanders and @Ocasio2018:
Where, exactly, are you going to get the money to pay for this?
Show your work. https://t.co/aZLJvUncnr
— Doug Mataconis (@dmataconis) July 30, 2018
Sanders slammed the Koch brothers-funded Mercatus Center and its “grossly misleading and biased report.”
“If every major country on earth can guarantee health care to all, and achieve better health outcomes, while spending substantially less per capita than we do, it is absurd for anyone to suggest that the United States cannot do the same,” Sanders said in a statement. “This grossly misleading and biased report is the Koch brothers response to the growing support in our country for a ‘Medicare for all’ program.”
But for all the blustering by the Vermont independent, one glaring omission stands out from the dispute. Team Bernie has not actually even looked into the plan and done a cost analysis, according to a spokesman.
Best part about AP Report on cost of Bernie Sanders Medicare For All planhttps://t.co/lPgoHiN6mV pic.twitter.com/LZyADla6ZF
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 30, 2018
“That estimate is rigged by the Koch Brothers.”
“Okay where is yours?”
“We haven’t done one.”
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 30, 2018
I thought this was the best part. pic.twitter.com/90rnXIkR1k
— Michael (@MachScholar) July 30, 2018
Twitter users called out Sanders for disputing the cost analysis of his proposal without ever even having it analyzed.
And that’s why Bernie, who appears on Sunday shows every single week, is never asked once about these things.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 30, 2018
The combined net worth of all US billionaires is $2.7 trillion.
That means if you were to tax billionaires at 100% AND send in agents to forcibly seize and liquidate all their property assets, you couldn’t even fund it for one year. https://t.co/HzkvQAEf2D
— Donny Ferguson ? (@DonnyFerguson) July 30, 2018
A very smart person told me “we’ll figure it out”. https://t.co/phFcD2v7N8
— BT (@back_ttys) July 30, 2018
I wonder if the Dems realize what would happen to their party if this thing actually passes and millions see much smaller paychecks and rationed care. They think what happened after Obamacare was bad? GOP would get 2/3 override numbers.
— Red Crow (@crow6729) July 30, 2018
Someone is going to have to pay eventually. You know? Either the next generation or this one. I’m never going to see my Social Security benefits. That train is ending in 10-15 years whether we like it or not.
— Ben Krake (@bkraky1) July 30, 2018
Socialist policies are only attractive because they sound nice, now you wouldn’t want to ruin all that with that pesky cost analysis, wouldn’t make it sounds nice at all.
— ❌ Dragon Empress ❌ (@DragonEmpressEn) July 30, 2018
Lets hurry and plant the magic beans that grow the magic trees that the free shit grows off of! pic.twitter.com/VwJkPQWIT8
— ?ne Man Rock Band® (@OneManRockr) July 30, 2018
I’m no honorable journalist fighting fires every day and spending $22 on avocado toast but maybe a good question for Sanders from here on out is why he hasn’t done a cost analysis of his own plan he’s been pushing months.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) July 30, 2018
Also the part about the government “streamlining administration costs”, since it’s so good at doing that now in every other program it manages
— J (@wileypepp) July 30, 2018
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Frieda@bizpacreview.com
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
