Bernie Sanders

DebJ

(7,699 posts) Mon Feb 15, 2016, 01:44 PM Feb 2016

Question on Bernie Sanders health care

I have a cousin who just told me this:

"Here's the dig. Military retirees like me are totally screwed under his healthcare plan. I go from a PROMISE of healthcare provided by the Department of Defense for the rest of my life, but under Sanders' plan I have to pay $6000 + in taxes for this healthcare."

Does anyone know if this is true, or how can I find out what the situation is under Bernie's proposals?

It seems to me that his health care was a contractual thing with DOD, part of his total compensation. This would be like a school district saying we will give teachers pensions at retirement rather than a current pay level that would allow them to save for retirement with those funds on their own, and then, when the teachers retire, saying oops no we won't pay that.

I would appreciate any answers.

My cousin Herb (he's a third cousin I found through Ancestry) has been a right wing person, a Tea Party sort of person, and we have argued for quite a few years now on Facebook. Good arguments. He seems to be cracking lately though. I think the repressed wages issue is getting to him.

I'd love to give him another little shove towards cracking!

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Question on Bernie Sanders health care (Original Post) DebJ Feb 2016 OP

For middle class people paying $5,000 per year Jarqui Feb 2016 #1

I don't know the details of this aspect of Bernie's plan Trajan Feb 2016 #2

not true EdwardBernays Feb 2016 #3

Turn it around on them SHRED Feb 2016 #4

This is the second or third time I've seen this Warren Stupidity Feb 2016 #5

Here on DU? Sorry I missed it. n/t DebJ Feb 2016 #7

From the Single Payer Healthcare bill Bernie introduced to Congress: think Feb 2016 #6

Thanks. DebJ Feb 2016 #9

I just noticed that your cousin is a retiree. Not a veteran. He might not be covered by this. think Feb 2016 #10

Actually his is not. He's a truck driver, 59 years old. n/t DebJ Feb 2016 #11

If this were true ... Autumn Colors Feb 2016 #8

Jarqui

(10,130 posts)

1. For middle class people paying $5,000 per year

Reply to DebJ (Original post)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 01:47 PM

Feb 2016

that will disappear and they have to pay $500/yr more in taxes

That seems like the worst case but I cannot see them lessen the quality of care for the vets. A Republican might but not Bernie.

Trajan

(19,089 posts)

2. I don't know the details of this aspect of Bernie's plan

Reply to DebJ (Original post)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 01:49 PM

Feb 2016

But, considering Bernie has focused on Veteran's issues over the many decades, one might presume he doesn't intend to 'stiff them' with extra charges ...

EdwardBernays

(3,343 posts)

3. not true

Reply to DebJ (Original post)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 01:51 PM

Feb 2016

or not even vaguely true...

"The typical middle class family would save over $5,000 under this plan.

Last year, the average working family paid $4,955 in premiums and $1,318 in deductibles to private health insurance companies. Under this plan, a family of four earning $50,000 would pay just $466 per year to the single-payer program, amounting to a savings of over $5,800 for that family each year."

So unless service men are going to pay over 10x what a family earning 50K would pay, it's obviously not true.

SHRED

(28,136 posts)

4. Turn it around on them

Reply to DebJ (Original post)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 01:53 PM

Feb 2016

Ask them to send you their source for this "information".

Warren Stupidity

(48,181 posts)

5. This is the second or third time I've seen this

Reply to DebJ (Original post)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 01:58 PM

Feb 2016

exact same story here.

DebJ

(7,699 posts)

7. Here on DU? Sorry I missed it. n/t

Reply to Warren Stupidity (Reply #5)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 02:13 PM

Feb 2016

think

(11,641 posts)

6. From the Single Payer Healthcare bill Bernie introduced to Congress:

Reply to DebJ (Original post)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 02:10 PM

Feb 2016

S.1782 - American Health Security Act of 2013

~Snip~

(d) Treatment Of Benefits For Veterans And Native Americans.—Nothing in this Act shall affect the eligibility of veterans for the medical benefits and services provided under title 38, United States Code, or of Indians for the medical benefits and services provided by or through the Indian Health Service.

~Snip~

Source:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1782/text

DebJ

(7,699 posts)

9. Thanks.

Reply to think (Reply #6)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 02:14 PM

Feb 2016

think

(11,641 posts)

10. I just noticed that your cousin is a retiree. Not a veteran. He might not be covered by this.

Reply to DebJ (Reply #9)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 02:16 PM

Feb 2016

Sorry for the confusion. I'm not sure as to how your cousin's situation would be handled.

DebJ

(7,699 posts)

11. Actually his is not. He's a truck driver, 59 years old. n/t

Reply to think (Reply #10)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 02:22 PM

Feb 2016

Autumn Colors

(2,379 posts)

8. If this were true ...

Reply to DebJ (Original post)

Mon Feb 15, 2016, 02:13 PM

Feb 2016

or an up-til-now detail that has been overlooked (which I doubt), wouldn't it be easily fixed with an exemption for veterans via completing an extra line on one's tax form at the end of the year or a form to sign for veterans' exemption when getting a new job (and filling out W-9 forms, etc for withholding purposes)?

As person above commented, I don't think Bernie would do this to veterans, based on his long history of support.

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