Check out what Seema Verma, CMS Administrator, tweeted on July 26:
Scary! Really?
Merriam-Webster defines socialized medicine as, “medical and hospital services for the members of a class or population administered by an organized group (such as a state agency) and paid for from funds obtained usually by assessments, philanthropy, or taxation.”
That sounds just like Medicare! Medicare covers Americans over the age of 65, and those with certain disabilities. It’s administrated by the US Federal government, and is paid for through payroll deductions.
Yet in spite of meeting the definition of “socialized,” Medicare is far from scary. In fact it’s a very popular program. According to a study published by the American Society on Aging, Medicare has a 96% favorability rating among Americans, including those who consider it “only somewhat important.”
Truth: Most Americans can hardly wait to get Medicare
The fact is, most Americans look forward to getting Medicare when they’re eligible, and the same study showed that when they do get it, 88% favor it, 96% feel it’s important to them and their family, 95% feel it’s important to America as a whole, and 79% feel it’s working well (Brodie, Hamel, Norton, 2015).
Seema Verma doesn’t seem to get it that not only does Medicare appeal to most Americans, the word “socialism” has lost most of its negative connotation as a result of, among other things, the Millennials coming of age and a backlash to the great recession of 2007-2009.
Truth: Medicare is not “government-controlled healthcare”
As to whether Medicare has any control over your healthcare decisions, or your access to care, per the Medicare website, “you can always see any doctor or healthcare provider that takes Medicare”, and “Nobody – not your doctor, not anyone – can tell you who you have to see”. This does not sound like you’re “giving the government complete control over the decisions pertaining to your care,” let alone the government determining “whether you receive care at all.” Ms. Verma’s statement is wholly unsupported by the facts.
As for Ms. Verma’s last point about “patient-centered care,” nobody is actually getting that from health insurers anyway. It’s common knowledge that the insurance industry is only in it for the money. Their business model depends on bringing in more premiums than they spend on our healthcare costs. There’s nothing “patient-centered” about that!
Truth: Medicare for All is the right way forward
In conclusion, Seema Verma appears to be demonizing Medicare for All to frighten Americans away from considering it. The health insurance industry, its supporters, and all those who profit from the current system are clearly worried because they see increasing support for a single-payer system that will reduce costs while covering everyone.
Even a recent Fox & Friends Twitter poll showed that 73% of respondents felt that the benefits of Medicare for All outweigh the costs!
Medicare for All is the right way forward both economically, and morally. Supporters of the old, for-profit system are the ones who should be scared…very scared.
— Stephen Updyke, MPH, CHES, CPH
Agents of Change Consulting (Owner)
Member, Health Care for All
