Senator Bernie Sanders, the Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has called on his Democratic colleagues to unite around a set of health care reforms aimed at improving affordability and access for American families. In a letter sent to Democratic senators, Sanders urged support for policies including an extension of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits.
“As the Ranking Member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) it is my view that, at a time when the Republicans have been forced to finally talk about the health care crisis facing our country, it is essential that the Democratic Caucus unify behind a set of common sense policies that will make health care more affordable and accessible,” Sanders wrote. “The American people are paying attention. Now is the time to act.”
Sanders criticized proposals from President Trump and Congressional Republicans regarding changes to health care policy. He stated that despite their claims of targeting major insurance companies, these proposals would worsen existing problems.
Sanders addressed Trump’s suggestion to replace ACA tax credits with direct payments: “Trump’s idea to send some 20 million Americans a check for, at most, $6,500 by repealing the ACA tax credits would be an absolute disaster. How is someone who needs $150,000 a year in cancer treatment going to get the care he or she needs with a $6,500 check? What is a pregnant mom supposed to do with a $6,500 check when the average cost of childbirth in America is $20,000? How is someone who has a heart attack going to be able to afford a $50,000 hospital stay with just $6,500?”
He continued: “President Trump’s absurd idea would lead to more medical bankruptcies, more unaffordable care and more Americans going without the health care they desperately need. At a time when the vast majority of Americans understand that our current health care system is broken, dysfunctional and cruel, we must offer serious proposals which begin to address the systemic deficiencies within American health care. We should not be defending a system which is not only, by far, the most expensive in the world, but one which numerous international studies describe as one of the worst.”
Sanders outlined six reforms he believes are necessary:
- Continue enhanced ACA premium tax credits so premiums do not double for about 20 million people.
- Reverse cuts totaling $1 trillion to Medicaid and ACA programs; according to Sanders this could prevent unnecessary deaths among roughly 50,000 Americans each year.
- Broaden Medicare coverage to include dental, vision and hearing services—a change supported by most Americans.
- Reduce prescription drug costs by half by capping U.S. prices at levels found in Europe or Canada.
- Expand primary care access nationwide so patients can find local doctors rather than relying on emergency rooms or hospitals.
- Prohibit stock buybacks and dividends by major health companies while restricting CEO pay; Sanders notes these firms made large profits between 2001 and 2022.
“It is my hope that we can unify our caucus in support of these policies and work together to rally the American people behind them so that they are enacted into law,” Sanders concluded.
