As a former insurance exec I knew my old industry was out of touch, but this is bad: The industry got some rightwing economists to say how great it is that health insurance in America is linked to employment... as untold millions are filing for unemployment due to #COVID19. (1/6)
The industry's trying to shoot down Medicare for All because it would cost them billions. So they said M4A "would eliminate the coverage millions of Americans rely on through employers & union-sponsored plans."👇 Let's call it unfortunate timing. (2/6) nosocializedmedicine.org/economistlette…
A few days later, we now have record unemployment filings, and many economists say it's the beginning of a huge spike that could result in "over 40 million Americans losing their jobs" by mid-April. What a great time to hail employer-based plans!🤦 (3/6) washingtonpost.com/business/2020/…
In response, a group of independent economists like @RBReich, @JeffDSachs, @DeanBaker13 & @gfriedma, write that "by ending the link between employment & health insurance, Medicare for All would assure all Americans of access to healthcare regardless of their employer." (4/6)
In their new letter backing M4A, top economists note millions face loss of health care "because they're losing health insurance when they lose their jobs. Their loss of access threatens all of us by facilitating the spread of the virus." Read here👇 (5/6) hopbrook-institute.org/single-post/20…
It's common sense. We're dealing with the most job losses per week in U.S. history. Tying our health coverage to employment status will literally strip people of healthcare & get some killed. There's simply no viable argument against it: America needs Medicare For All. (/END.)
