BACKGROUND
Every American deserves access to affordable, quality health coverage, but healthcare costs are out of control. The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers (The Council) believes we should improve what’s working and fix what’s broken. Congress should focus on reigning in healthcare costs for every American, no matter where they get their insurance. The more than 180 million Americans with employer-sponsored insurance (ESI) should be allowed to keep their coverage options, and we must do more to lower health costs for every American. When the free market and public programs work together to bring down the cost of care, we believe the U.S. can expand access to high-quality care for every American.
THE ISSUE
A single-payer, Medicare for All model would significantly disrupt how the majority of Americans receive their health insurance. The Council opposes this type of system because it compromises the insurance of 180 million Americans receiving coverage on the employer-provided insurance market.
- Choice: Consumers in the United States have more personal choices than anywhere else in the world when it comes to insurance, doctors, and treatments.
- Benefits: More than 290 million Americans have insurance coverage that covers essential benefits, and everyone is guaranteed by law to receive treatment when their life or health is in danger.
- Employer Contributions: More than 180 million Americans can access healthcare coverage through their employers, with the average employer paying more than 70% of the cost of each employee’s coverage.
COST, CHOICE, AND COMPETITION
Americans are most concerned with healthcare costs. When discussing costs, it is important to acknowledge the issue, promote choice and competition, and commit to collaborative efforts. Americans have three main concerns about Medicare for All and its related proposals: higher taxes, quality of care, and longer wait times.
- Taxes: A single-payer system would be funded by raising taxes on hard-working Americans by billions of dollars every year. Medicare for All would cost more than the U.S. government spends on the military, healthcare, social security, and other entitlement benefits combined.
- Quality: Single-payer healthcare systems overseas provide lower quality of care than what American patients receive, and current government-run programs in the U.S. have worse quality outcomes than private plans.
- Wait time: In other countries with single-payer plans, patients wait a long time for treatment and have less access to medical specialists and experts.
OUR POSITION
The Council believes that all Americans deserve access to affordable health coverage and high-quality care. The Council believes we should remove politics from healthcare and work together to improve what’s working and fix what isn’t. Healthcare decisions should be made by patients and their doctors – not politicians and bureaucrats. Whether it’s called Medicare for All, single-payer, or a public option, one-size-fits-all healthcare will mean all Americans have less choice and control over their doctors, treatments and coverage. It will mean higher taxes for hardworking families, longer wait times and lower quality of care for patients.
