Thread by @AndrewPulrang

Some thoughts on healthcare proposals and disabled voters …

I feel like a narrative may develop where a certain subset of disability activists could get a reputation for being categorically against Medicare For All proposals. 1/9

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It’s true, we tend to have unusually detailed & specific technical questions about every healthcare proposal we run across. We kind of have to, because how these proposals would work or not work is a matter of life, death, and independence. 2/9

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But it’s also true that we tend to value certain key characteristics of Medicare For All proposals, especially the parts that would firmly take eligibility and ability to pay out of the healthcare equation. Those are massive selling points for us. 3/9

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It’s ALSO true that we might welcome proposals that do a bit less, or don’t check all the moral & ideological boxes - maybe include insurance companies, or involve some copays or premiums, IF eligibility were stable & guaranteed, and if they ACTUALLY PASSED. 4/9

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It’s ALSO true that ANY healthcare proposal that doesn’t cover long term care in home & community settings, or imposes stricter limits on the treatments we need, or increases medical interference in our lives, will be a nonstarter with disabled voters. 5/9

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It’s ALSO true that some us distrust doctors & government bureaucrats as much as we distrust insurance companies. A government run system would be more equitable & secure. But we know it wouldn’t solve all our problems, and can be done well, or poorly. 6/9

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If we ask questions that make us seem like apologists for the status quo, it may be because we need healthcare every day, not just when we are sick or have an accident. Disabled people are professional-level healthcare users. Our opinions have unique value. 7/9

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You can treat our questions & criticisms as attempts to sabotage your favorite plan or candidate. Or, you can use the points disabled people raise to make your favorite plan or candidate better. 8/9

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By the way, this thread isn’t a passive-aggressive response to any specific argument I’ve seen or had, or any Twitter beef. I’ve just been thinking about this stuff because I personally have divided, complicated feelings about the current healthcare debate. 9/9

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