March 28, 2024 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Bernie Sanders Tries to Take the Terror Out of Health Care

Some call it radical. Others call it “European-style,” in an effort to make it sound more intimidating (and less inherently American) than it is. No matter what you call it, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ new healthcare plan, titled the Medicare for All Act of 2017, is more than just a band-aid on the face of America’s health crisis – involving ever-rising health costs and unpayable hospital-related debts for many. It promises to mend the issue of health coverage in a way that doesn’t leave anyone out in the cold.

Sanders proposed the act on Wednesday, September 13, and the specifics of the act are these: In four years, private health insurance goes out the window, and every American automatically becomes part of the Medicare for All plan, including children and seniors. The coverage would be broad, with most services coming at almost no extra cost to individuals. This means that, unlike in Canada, services largely considered to be outside the normal purview like eye care and dental will be covered by the government plan. Private companies, in addition, will not be allowed to come in and create competition.

So why does this spark terror in the hearts of many Americans? There’s the natural distrust in government that many individuals carry, a fear of having to experience long wait times for crucial procedures, and a fear of not having control over receiving the “best” healthcare money can buy.

However, what we think of in America as the “best” treatment usually has to do with money. That’s why it feels easier to trust corporations than the government. According to Vox, under the current system, “An appendectomy can cost anywhere from $1,529 to $186,955, depending on how good of a deal an insurer can get from a hospital.”

This large variance in pricing is very much in keeping with the problem of for-profit care in our country. On this season of TruTV’s “Adam Ruins Everything,” there’s an entire episode devoted to the problematics of our healthcare system. Host Adam Conover states: “American healthcare is not the best in the world. But despite that, we spend more per person annually on healthcare than any other developed nation.” He goes on to explain how, due to a history of American hospitals inflating prices on ordinary items and services, an IV bag that costs less than a dollar to produce shows up on patients’ bills for $137.

It’s hard to say how the bill will fare in the current political climate, which keeps handing us surprises at every turn. The one thing we can be certain of is Sanders’ ability to fight to the death for his cause. In his proposal on Wednesday, he stated: “It is not acceptable that 28 million Americans have no health insurance and that even more are underinsured with high copayments and deductibles. The time is now for a Medicare-for-All, single-payer system. Health care must be a right, not a privilege.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Related Posts

Find Harmony at IntoMeSea: Unveiling Santa Monica’s Quantum Wellness Hub

March 5, 2024

March 5, 2024

A Look Into the Healing Studio and Interview with Owner Jen Williams  IntoMeSea, a healing wellness studio located at 1812...

Skin Laundry Laser Focuses On Rejuvenating Skin

July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023

Facials don’t have to be invasive. That’s why Skin Laundry has taken a revolutionary approach to skincare technology, making the...

WeHo Spreads Word About Free Covid Testing

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood is reminding residents that free COVID-19 testing is available for them.  Demand for COVID-19 testing...

Green Qween New Queer-Owned Cannabis Shop Will Open Downtown

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

Green Qween, a new queer-owned and queer-driven cannabis shop, will open in downtown on April 20th.  The shops owners, Andrés...

New Injectable HIV Prevention Drug Approved By FDA

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first long-acting injectable medication for use as pre-exposure prevention, or PrEP, against...

AIDS/LifeCycle 2022 Needs More Volunteers

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

AIDS LifeCycle is back with more than $4 million raised so far for the 2022 ride benefitting the HIV/AIDS-related services...

Synergy Scholarship For LGBTQ+ Students

December 13, 2021

December 13, 2021

The Synergy scholarship for LGBTQ+ students is now open for submissions.  Created by California native GT Dave in June of...

‘Commitment To Life’ Documentary Exploring HIV Fight In Los Angeles

December 7, 2021

December 7, 2021

Production has begun on “Commitment to Life” a new documentary that explores the fight against HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles.  Directed...

Pride Poets’ Corner: Featuring Corey Saucier & the Dirge for 24 Hour Fitness

December 7, 2021

December 7, 2021

On November 30, 2020, the 24 Hour Fitness location in West Hollywood, which had been in the community for 25...

Congregation Kol Ami To Host World AIDS Day 2021 Event

November 30, 2021

November 30, 2021

Progressive, Reform Congregation Kol Ami will mark World AIDS Day with a special interfaith observance, combining awareness, remembrance, and speaking...

34th Annual AIDS Walk Long Beach

November 16, 2021

November 16, 2021

The 34th Annual AIDS Walk Long Beach, a benefit for the LGBTQ Center Long Beach and other local providers returned...

New Documentary Pays Tribute to Transgender ‘AIDS diva’ Connie Norman

October 26, 2021

October 26, 2021

A new documentary titled “AIDS Diva: The Legend of Connie Norman,” will pay tribute to the transgender leader in AIDS...

Marathon Runners Heading To WeHo

October 18, 2021

October 18, 2021

Runners in the 2021 Los Angeles Marathon presented by Asics will be making their way through the City of West...

Los Angeles LGBT Center Opens New Facility In South Los Angeles

October 15, 2021

October 15, 2021

Los Angeles LGBT Center has opened a new facility in South Los Angeles to serve the health needs of LGBT...

AIDS/LifeCycle Kick Off Ride

October 11, 2021

October 11, 2021

AIDS/LifeCycle is kicking off it’s 2022 training season to end AIDS on October 16th.  Riders can sign up for the...