The Inevitable Trade-Offs of Medicare for All

Published October 13, 2022

Many people feel that “Medicare for All” sounds like a good idea: get rid of private health insurance and have the government pay for all medical care. But digging a little deeper reveals that creating government-provided coverage for all Americans while attempting to lower health care costs would come with some steep trade-offs. There are much less disruptive and more targeted ways to help those who cannot afford medical care.

Discussion Questions:

1. Who is Medicare for All intended to help? Does it need to cover everyone?
2. Would Medicare for All make American citizens more or less free?

Additional Resources:

• Read Charles Blahous’s statement before the US Senate Committee on the Budget. Available here.

• Watch “The Fiscal Consequences of Medicare for All,” with Charles Blahous on PolicyEd. Available here.

• Read “Input and Output in Medical Care,” by Milton Friedman. Available here.