Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Many Moderate Democrats See A Public Option As The Next Logical Step, But It Could Undercut ACA Marketplace
The New York Times: How A Medicare Buy-In Or Public Option Could Threaten Obamacare
It seems a simple enough proposition: Give people the choice to buy into Medicare, the popular federal insurance program for those over 65. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. is one of the Democratic presidential contenders who favor this kind of buy-in, often called the public option. They view it as a more gradual, politically pragmatic alternative to the Medicare-for-all proposal championed by Senator Bernie Sanders, which would abolish private health insurance altogether. (Abelson, 7/29)
CNN: Support For Medicare For All Dips, But Most People Like Their Employer Plans
Americans are eager to hear the Democratic presidential contenders talk about health care at his week's debates on CNN, but they are more mixed in their support for the candidates' proposals. Support for "Medicare for All," Sen. Bernie Sanders' sweeping vision to remake the nation's health insurance system, has slipped to 51%, down from 59% in March, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, released Tuesday. (Luhby, 7/30)
Kaiser Health News: Democrats Favor Building On ACA Over ‘Medicare For All’
Most Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would prefer to expand the Affordable Care Act rather than replace it with a “Medicare for All” plan, according to a new tracking poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The poll, released Tuesday, also examines opinions on a generic government-run “public option” health plan that would be available to all Americans and compete with private insurance. About two-thirds of the public said they support a public option, though more than 6 in 10 Republicans oppose it. (Huetteman, 7/30)
And in other insurance news —
The Associated Press: Hurry Up And Wait: Docs Say Insurers Increasingly Interfere
After Kim Lauerman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, doctors wanted to give her a drug that helps prevent infections and fever during chemotherapy. Her insurer said no. Anthem Blue Cross told Lauerman the drug wasn’t necessary. She eventually got it after an infection landed her in the hospital, but that led to another problem: She ended up missing several chemo sessions. “The insurance has been great until I got to a point that I really needed something for survival,” Lauerman said. (Murphy, 7/29)
