The topic of affordable healthcare has been around since World War II, when wages were frozen so businesses offered health insurance as an incentive to combat a labor shortage. Healthcare coverage is still largely linked to our jobs: a little more than half the population and three-fourths of those of working age. The Affordable Care Act marketplace made it easier for people to be less reliant on employers for their healthcare security, but Republicans continue efforts to undermine that progress.
Over the years, a lot of ideas have been put forward to change how we handle health insurance for Americans, including proposals from candidates running for governor.
If you had to pick just one change, what would it be?
We acknowledge these are simplistic definitions in order to make it a little easier to choose only one path. And please resist saying any change is acceptable; we’d really like to know which one option connects best with you.
A: Medicare For All (Single payer) – Every American has coverage, as the government would be the single insurance coverage provider. There would still be some out-of-pocket costs and a role for private sector healthcare, but no American would face bankruptcy for getting sick or injured.
B: Government-run – No more for-profit entities in healthcare, with most facilities operated by the government and most healthcare providers being government employees or independent contractors. (Much like the Veterans Administration.)
C: Public Option – Leave everything mostly as it is, but give the for-profit sector some competition through a public option. For example, letting everyone in Wisconsin buy into coverage from the plan that covers state employees.
D – Expand the ACA – Keep the current system largely intact but provide more generous subsidies to families so that they have more and better options to choose from in the insurance marketplace.
E: Do Nothing – Things are fine as-is. If anything, remove more government involvement and let the free market determine coverage and affordability.
Click your choice in the box above and feel free to say more in the comment box — and leave your first name and hometown so we can share your answer in our next newsletter.
