Tell people then are going to be taxed on a benefit they have never been taxed on previously isn't something that is going to be very popular

If it is as good as we think, people will gravitate to it.

Forcing it down the throats of the 40% adamantly opposed, or the 50% or more who are just not sure, ain't gonna work under the current political climate. There are too many people who haven't got the sense to realize paying an increased tax is likely much better than paying a premium. As California, Colorado and Vermont found, few legislators have to guts to propose a significant tax increase, even if the tax replaces what people are paying on average for premiums.

Either lower the age for Medicare enrollment over a period of years, or phase in the most basic services to all, then over time expand the coverage. Offer supplemental and advantage plans, the way they are currently offered to seniors. Allow people to purchase "Cadillac" plans if they can afford them. But the essential thing is that basic services, such as yearly physical exams and vaccinations be at no cost to people. Medications be either free or at low cost.

There is no realistic way to make everything free to all, but getting a start is what needs to happen.

And to tax current company sponsored health care as income strikes me as a truly terrible idea.

The truth is it is income. Why should I subsidize employees who get a benefit that i am excluded from. I am on Medicare so I know the game well. I had to buy healthcare for my wife this month. She is too young for medicare. Last year I payed $13,500 for premiums( cobra and medicare. Her cobra ran out last month. I now have a HMO for her. None of her Doctors are in the HMO. HMO's were all that is offered in Atlanta(Peachcare and Humana). They are no PPO's offered. So now I have to pay out of pocket for all her healthcare. The only guarantee I got from the ACA is no preexisting conditions and no cap on lifetime.

Shortterm policise like golden rule has a lifetime $250K cap. How is that for shitty.

Medicare is a deal mu supplemental is only $125 a mnoth through Mutual of Omaha. I pay for dental through AARP(only plan with implanyts) VSP for vision and Humana for Rx.

The individual should not be given the shaft all the time.

and had an employee policy. Heck, given that I was then and am now extraordinarily healthy and used almost no coverage, maybe I should be getting money back?

My Medicare is an even better deal as I have an advantage plan that doesn't cost any extra to me.

Realistically, Medicare cannot immediately take over all health coverage. Yes, we need to get the insurance companies out of the game, but it won't happen overnight. Can't happen overnight. A few years ago, maybe it was part of the ACA, the companies were supposed to use some significant percent of their premiums for actual coverage. People did get money back.

It's not entirely clear to me what you think is the best way forward.

If a company gave you the money they pay for your healthcare as more income and you had to go out and pay for insurance it would blow your mind. People who get their healthcare through companies have no idea how the rest of us live.

or stay in jobs that have it.

It also helps to know that our current system started in WWII when wage and price controls kept companies from giving raises to their employees, so they started giving health care benefits instead. Which were tax exempt. Then, after the war when European countries started moving to whatever version of universal or government paid healthcare they decided on, this country in the form of Congress, rejected that. And continued to reject it. The ACA was a start in the direction of universal health care, but of course the Republicans are doing their best to dismantle it. And Medicare. And Medicaid. While giving tax breaks to the rich that would more than pay for truly universal health care.

and this system was cemented during the Nixon Administration. As long as we have the current system it will remain to be unfair to anyone who has to pay for their own.

Why should I be punished for owning my own business?

however it is the system that punishes us individuals.

insurance. Medicare for all simply is not going to work.

Medicare for a family of four is not exactly cheap. It would still cost around $1400 for a family of four with supplemental insurance. However you would be covered for everything. That would mean no deductibles,copays and out of pocket maximums. If you took the money that companies and individuals pay combined it is around $15,00 to $18,000 a year. That is not way off what medicare is.

and which is largely overlooked in all of these discussions, is that there is already a lot of money being paid into the system. Far more than in other countries because of CEO salaries, corporate profits, and the like.

And the other point which I keep on trying to make, is that we aren't going to be able to switch overnight to Medicare For All or The Perfect ACA or whatever. It will need to be done incrementally. But it's doable. We as a country just need to have the will.

I don't know what it's like elsewhere, but all too often you hear garbage like: "Why should I pay for that person't insulin when they're a fat slob who eats all the wrong things and never exercises?" Or "Why should I pay for that other person's supplemental oxygen when they smoked since they were 13 and still haven't quit?" Or other variations on the theme. But even though people ought to be held responsible for certain life style choices, we still owe each other common decency and medical care. Again, I wonder how other countries handle such things.

before they ever are eligible for benefits. No one has any idea what the premium would be if everyone was eligible from day one.