# Medicare for All Act: Plain Language Summary

The Medicare for All Act would replace the current system of private health insurance with a single, government-run health insurance program that covers every American. Instead of getting insurance through your employer, buying it privately, or relying on programs like Medicare and Medicaid, everyone would be enrolled in one unified system. This means all Americans—from newborns to seniors—would have the same basic health coverage, similar to how Medicare currently works for people over 65.

Under this system, you'd no longer pay premiums to private insurance companies, and you'd likely pay little to nothing when you visit a doctor, go to the hospital, or fill a prescription. Instead, the government would fund the program through taxes, which would replace the money people currently spend on insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical costs. The idea is that by having one large program negotiating prices with hospitals and drug companies, healthcare costs would be lower overall, and everyone would have guaranteed access to care regardless of their income or employment status.

This would be a massive change to how American healthcare works. People who currently have employer-sponsored insurance would lose those plans, though supporters argue they'd save money overall since they wouldn't pay premiums anymore. People without insurance would gain coverage. However, the transition would be complex—the government would need to hire many new workers to run the program, hospitals and doctors would need to adjust to a new payment system, and pharmaceutical companies would face price negotiations they don't currently experience. The bill represents a fundamental shift from a market-based insurance system to a government-administered one, which is why it's been controversial, with supporters emphasizing universal coverage and opponents concerned about government efficiency and potential tax increases.

Medicare for All Act

Sanders, Bernard

Medicare for All Act This bill establishes a national health insurance program that is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Among other requirements, the program must (1) cover all U.S. residents; (2) provide for automatic enrollment of individuals upon birth or residency in the United States; and (3) cover items and services that are medically necessary or appropriate to maintain health or to diagnose, treat, or rehabilitate a health condition, including hospital services, prescription drugs, mental health and substance abuse treatment, dental and vision services, home- and community-based long-term care, gender affirming care, and reproductive care, including contraception and abortions. The bill prohibits cost-sharing (e.g., deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments) and&nbsp;other charges for covered services, with the exception of prescription drugs. Additionally, private health insurers and employers may only offer coverage that is supplemental to, and not duplicative of, benefits provided under the program. Health insurance exchanges and specified federal health programs terminate upon program implementation. However, the program does not affect coverage provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs, TRICARE, or the Indian Health Service. Additionally, state Medicaid programs must cover certain institutional long-term care services. The bill also establishes a series of implementing provisions relating to (1) health care provider participation; (2) HHS administration; and (3) payments and costs, including the requirement that HHS negotiate prices for prescription drugs and establish a formulary. Individuals who are age 18 or younger may enroll in the program starting one year after enactment of this bill; other individuals may buy into a transitional plan or an expanded Medicare program at this time, depending on age. The bill's program must be fully implemented four years after enactment.