Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumIn 2020 Trump is running on Immigration and the border. Who is best able to beat him on that issue?
That's one of the most important questions Democrats need to ask themselves.
Trump is a one trick pony, and the border and immigration is his only trick.
There is one candidate that has spent the majority of their lives in a border town.
That candidate understand exactly what the truth at the border is.
That candidate understands the cause and effect of Trump's proposals.
That candidate is brilliant unscripted and can give incredible answers on the fly.
That candidate will decimate Trump in a debate where the focus WILL be the border and immigration.
That candidate stands a very good chance of turning Texas blue.
If Texas goes blue Trump loses, period.
If Republicans have to fight hard to try to hold onto Texas they have less time and money to spend in the rust belt.
Just some food for thought...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
EveHammond13
(2,855 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Indygram
(2,113 posts)Which is essentially making Medicare a public option and available to everyone who wants it without annihilating employer provided insurance. That's my preference.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
I think most people have higher priorities than worrying about immigration that's been going on - well, one could say for centuries. ha
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Indygram
(2,113 posts)Outline of Medicare for America:
The MEDICARE FOR AMERICA Act of 2018
The Medicare for America Act would establish the Medicare for America (MFA) health program
to provide universal, comprehensive, and affordable health coverage to all Americans.
Who Can Join?
Medicare for America achieves universal coverage by enrolling the uninsured, those who purchase their
health insurance on the individual market, and those currently on Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP. Large
employers can continue to provide employer-sponsored care, if it is gold-level coverage. Or, they can
direct that contribution toward their employees MFA premiums. Or, employees will have the option to
choose MFA over employer-sponsored coverage.
What Does It Cover?
Medicare for America improves on Medicares and Medicaids benefits: covering prescription drugs,
dental, vision, and hearing services. And unlike Medicaid, your zip code does not determine your benefits.
Medicare for America also comprehensively covers long-term supports and services for Americans living
with disabilities and seniors, which Medicare and private insurance do not. And unlike Medicaid, MFA
compensates family caregivers, who play a crucial role in resolving Americas long-term care crisis.
What Does It Cost Me?
Premiums, to be established by the Secretary, will be no more than 9.69% of individuals or households
monthly income. Current Medicare beneficiaries will pay either Medicares premium (how it is presently
calculated) or MFAs, whichever is cheaper. And, individuals and families between 200 and 600 percent
of the Federal Poverty Level will receive subsidies. Those below 200 percent will have no premium (or
deductible or out of pocket limit).
Deductibles for an individual (including seniors and current Medicare beneficiaries) will be $350; $500 for
a family (based on a sliding scale for individuals and families between 200 and 600 percent of the Federal
Poverty Level). Maximum out of pocket costs for an individual (including seniors and current Medicare
beneficiaries) will be $3,500; $5,000 for families (based on a sliding scale for individuals and families
between 200 and 600 percent of the Federal Poverty Level). Premiums will vary by family composition,
but no individual or family can pay more than 9.69% of monthly income towards their monthly premium.
What About Employer-Sponsored Insurance (ESI)?
Large employers can continue to provide insurance, if it is gold-level coverage with benefits comparable
to MFA. Or, they enroll their employees in MFA and contribute 8% of annual payroll to the Medicare Trust
Fund. Employees can choose to enroll in MFA, even if their employer offers qualifying coverage. And in
either case, if an employer contributes to MFA in lieu of ESI or an employee chooses MFA over ESI, the
employees MFA premiums will be based on income. And, they will be eligible for subsidies. The same
deductibles and cost-sharing apply for these individuals and households.
What Doctors Can I See?
Doctors who participate in current Medicare remain a participating provider under MFA. The Secretary
would establish a process for adding more providers not yet participating in Medicare (e.g. pediatric
specialties).
How Are Doctors Reimbursed?
MFAs rates for medical providers and services would equal current Medicare rates, while proactively
increasing rates for primary care and other mental and behavioral health and cognitive services. Far too
many individuals who need care face roadblocks because reimbursement rates are too low. Health
coverage serves no one any good if they do not have access to care.
What About Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Prices?
MFA would end the Big Pharma giveaway banning Medicare from negotiating drug prices. Under MFA,
the Secretary would negotiate prescription drugs based on value assessments. If negotiations fail, the
Secretary shall use prices paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the average price of these drugs
in OECD nations. If drug manufacturers refuse to negotiate, MFA will not cover any of their products, with
an exceptions process for drugs otherwise unavailable for individuals with chronic conditions.
Additionally, MFA bans the use of prior authorization and step therapy in any type of health insurance:
public or private.
What About Medicare Advantage?
Individuals will have the option to enroll in a Medicare Advantage for America plan, but these plans will
need to charge an additional premium if they cover additional benefits. The bill also includes the Medicare
Advantage Bill of Rights, which would prohibit plans from dropping providers during the middle of the
plan year unless they can show cause, and would improve notice to plan enrollees about annual changes
to provider networks before they commit to joining the plan.
How Is Medicare For America Paid For?
Medicare for America will be financed by sunsetting the Republican tax bill, imposing a 5% surtax on
adjusted gross income (including on capital gains) above $500,000, and increasing the Medicare payroll
tax and the net investment income tax. Medicare for America also increases the excise taxes on all
tobacco products, beer, wine, liquor, and sugar-sweetened drinks.
States will also need to make maintenance of effort payments equal to the amounts they currently spend
on Medicaid and CHIP. For states that did not expand Medicaid, these amounts would be inflated by the
growth in gross domestic product (GDP) per person plus 0.7 percentage points. For states that did expand
Medicaid, these amounts would be inflated by the growth in GDP per person plus 0.4 percentage points.
After 10 years of payments, they would then increase by the growth in GDP per person plus 0.7 percentage
points for all states. This structure would ensure that no state spends more than they currently spend,
while giving a temporary discount to states that expanded their Medicaid programs.
If states refuse to make the maintenance of effort payments, they will be no longer be eligible for funding
under the Mental Health Services Block Grant program, Social Services Block grant program, the
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program (Federal Health Centers Program), State
Targeted Response to Opioid Crisis Grants, Community Services Block grants, Section 330 grants, and the
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program grant program.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
pangaia
(24,324 posts)You know, one thing that anyone presenting or supporting ANY proposed health insurance plan should, in my opinion, do, is to make SURE to clearly tell the morons that it is not just 'all these new taxes' being levied, but that, to what degree I have no idea, the taxes will be offset by reduced or eliminated current premiums and many other associated health care costs...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Indygram
(2,113 posts)Medicare for all could not and because there would not be any bipartisan support it could lead to the same mess we are in now with Republicans trying to dismantle it after regaining control. Whatever we do has to be tolerable to moderates, so the public option method is honestly the only sure way to get this done.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BlueFlorida
(1,532 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)It's turned into a racist wall to block out rapists, but that's not what it really is about.
It's about people who lost good paying factory jobs and now have to compete with an underclass of illegally imported labor while corporation.
The whole racist thing is a head fake. It does brings out the crazies, but it also distracts us from the economics.
And before anybody says, "they are just racists and always were," study how racism is used to justify economic exploitation, and how economic anxieties make people more racist. It's a vicious circle, and countries that ignored have paid a terrible price.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Indygram
(2,113 posts)Beto is incredible on the border and immigration. He can describe exactly how a wall will cause harm and how Trump's policies are making it worse. He talks about how Trump is breaking the law by blocking asylum seekers from seeking asylum at ports of entry and forcing them to cross elsewhere, etc.
I think Pete is the best one to go up against Pence, but I think Beto is best against Trump.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)Which is the problem I have with all the Democrats. Trump made a connection in people's minds and we don't know how to unmake it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Indygram
(2,113 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)If he can reframe it, fine I'd like to see it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Indygram
(2,113 posts)He talks extensively about immigration, better than anyone else I have ever heard. I'm sure it will be covered in the debates.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)Nobody even talking about this issues. All they say is we are going to stop illegal immigration without a wall and we welcome everybody. But for the ones who are already across, are we willing to deny them work and strictly punish businesses who hire them? Are we willing to crack down on the underground economy? Do they even know we have an underground economy?
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-12-21/brand-name-companies-no-name-workers-how-ghosts-at-contractors-keep-ice-at-bay
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Indygram
(2,113 posts)Support the DREAM Act and comprehensive reform
Support the DREAM Act: A humanitarian and economically sound bill to pass for our country as a whole, the DREAM Act provides a path to citizenship for a generation of young people who were brought here as children and only know life in the U.S.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: allowing a more flexible visa system that accurately adjusts to our economic and market conditions. Most importantly, I will work to ensure that the people of El Paso, the ones actually living on the border and dealing with the implementations of immigration & border security policies passed in Washington, have a voice in this very important discussion.
Through immigration reform, we can empower immigrants to come to the U.S. legally, discourage the abuse of the visa system, encourage employers to hire legally documented workers, enrich the American presence in the global economy and reduce the exploitation and discrimination of foreign workers.
Source: 2012 House campaign website, betoforcongress.com, "Issues" , Nov 6, 2012
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
marylandblue
(12,344 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden