Sen. Kamala Harris released a health-care plan on Monday that will transition every American into her version of a “Medicare for All” system within 10 years.
The plan, which will allow private insurers to remain if they follow new rules, comes before the second Democratic debates in Detroit this week.
The plan does not go as far or as fast as the one proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, which Harris has co-sponsored in the Senate. But it positions Harris to the left of moderate front-runner Joe Biden, a former vice president, by guaranteeing coverage to all Americans. And it clears up the California senator’s previously muddled position on the role for private insurance.
Harris’ plan also rules out a tax on the middle class that Sanders has said could be an option to finance his proposal. Sanders has proposed a 4% income-based premium on households earning more than $29,000 as one way to fund his plan. Harris’ plan raises the earnings threshold to $100,000. Both senators have also proposed new taxes on stock, bond and derivatives transactions.
“Medicare works. It’s popular. Seniors transition into it every day, and people keep their doctors and get care at a lower cost. Let’s not lose sight that we have a Medicare system that’s already working,” Harris wrote in the plan, which was posted to the blogging platform Medium. “Now, let’s expand it to all Americans and give everyone access to comprehensive health care.”
