Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Kamala Harris Would Be Willing To Cut Private Insurers Out Of Mix To Enact 'Medicare For All'
CNN: Harris Backs 'Medicare For All' And Eliminating Private Insurance As We Know It
California Sen. Kamala Harris fully embraced "Medicare-for-all" single payer health insurance at a CNN town hall Monday and said she's willing to end private insurance to make it happen. "We need to have Medicare-for-all," Harris told a questioner in the audience, noting it's something she feels "very strongly" about. When pressed by CNN's Jake Tapper if that means eliminating private insurance, the senator answered affirmatively, saying she would be OK with cutting insurers out of the mix. She also accused them of thinking only of their bottom lines and of burdening Americans with paperwork and approval processes. (Luhby and Krieg, 1/29)
Fox News: Kamala Harris Vows To Get Rid Of Private Health Care Plans: 'Let's Eliminate All Of That. Let's Move On'
Her statements appeared to be a full-throated call for single-payer health insurance, as opposed to merely expanding Medicare, and a dramatic embrace of the kind of proposals advocated by Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders. "Well, listen, the idea is that everyone gets access to medical care. And you don't have to go through the process of going through an insurance company, having them give you approval, going through the paperwork, all of the delay that may require," Harris told Tapper. (Re, 1/28)
Meanwhile, a look at California Gov. Gavin Newsom's incremental steps toward getting more people covered —
KQED: Newsom's Tactic: Not Yet Health Care For All, But Health Care For More
It was way easier for candidate Gavin Newsom to endorse single-payer health care coverage for everyone than it is now for Gov. Newsom to deliver it. Yet hardcore advocates say they’re pleased with the moves he’s made thus far—even if it may take years to come to fruition. (Aguilera, 1/28)
