Expanding government control of the national healthcare system has become increasingly popular among D.C. politicians. Some Americans don't have access to healthcare, they reason, so the federal government should step in to ensure that they do.
But there's just one problem: federal programs don't work. Or, at least, they don't work as well as they're supposed to, and they often come with a mountain of unintended consequences.
As Elizabeth O'Connor wrote recently for The Hill, both Medicare-for-all and Mayor Pete Buttigieg's "Medicare-for-all-who-want-it" would result worse healthcare for everyone:
A public option would crowd out those in our health care system who need its services the most. It could increase costs to those who do not want to be insured but are forced to via a government mandate. We are a country that values choices, and this would ultimately remove those from our health care system.
Buttigieg’s plan would automatically enroll anyone in the public option who is uninsured, starting first with those who reside in non-expansion states, including Texas. There are people who chose to be uninsured in these states — because they have the freedom to (many of these folks sought out affordable coverage elsewhere). They would not have that option under Buttigieg’s plan.
While the details of automatic enrollment are being worked out, physicians who see an uninsured patient would be reimbursed by the government. But if you know that the government will cover your bill if you are uninsured, why would you pay the premiums for your employee or private insurance plan? Or, due to the notorious inefficiencies of the government, would physicians take the risk of accepting uninsured patients without a timely reimbursement plan in place?
As Buttigieg’s plan states, this is a “natural glide-path to Medicare for All.” When we look at our current examples of single-payer systems in the United States — Medicare and the Veterans Administration (VA) — patients’ needs are often unmet, and costs continue to rise. It has been found that the VA is inefficient, filled with unnecessary costs, and patient wait times lead to increased complications and sometimes death. Medicare has been overspending for decades with Medicare for All predicted to increase the deficit by $14 trillion over 10 years.
Americans don't want more government control over their daily lives. In poll after poll, We the People say that we want to make decisions for ourselves and our families.
So what do we do when D.C. ignores our wishes and tries to ram down more government programs anyway?
We turn to the Constitution.
Article V allows the states to call a Convention of States to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments can close the constitutional loopholes instituted by the Supreme Court that the federal government uses to expand its power.
By clarifying the Founders intent for the General Welfare Clause and the Commerce Clause, the people and the states can limit federal power to a narrow set of topics and leave all other issues -- including healthcare -- to individuals, families, communities, and states.
Fifteen states have signed on and millions of Americans have voiced their support. You can too by signing the petition below!
