https://www.citizen.org/sites/default/files/the_case_for_medicare-for-all_-_february.pdf
February 2019
...Meanwhile, opponents of the ACA have perpetually sought to overturn the law or, short of that, to sabotage it at every opportunity. They have ended a requirement, initially proposed by conservatives and sought by insurance companies, that all Americans carry some form of health insurance or face a financial penalty. Because a federal judge in Texas used the end of that requirement to strike down the Affordable Care Act entirely, including the universally popular prohibition against insurance companies discriminating against people with preexisting conditions, health care for millions of Americans remains under threat as we wait for the case to be heard by the Supreme Court...
Despite recent reforms, many Americans continue to struggle to get the care they need. In addition, we continue to trail behind comparable countries in both access to care and health outcomes. Recent Congressional and Administration efforts to end the individual mandate and weaken ACA protections have only made things worse. And with a federal judge in Texas striking down the Affordable Care Act, setting up the likelihood of case reaching the U.S. Supreme Court, health care for millions of Americans remains under intense threat, including extremely popular provisions of the law such as protections against discrimination against people with pre-existing conditions.
Thankfully, momentum for a better system is growing. The public outcry for a fairer system that allows everyone access to the care they need will only get stronger as costs continue to rise. Medicare-for-All would improve the current Medicare program and expand it to everyone in the United States. Such a health care system would provide better access to care and would be far more efficient than our fragmented health care system. The successful experience of other nations implementing similar programs for their citizens shows what great potential such a system has for improving the lives of everyone in the United States.
Though a single-payer health care system should have been implemented decades ago, as was suggested shortly after the passage of Medicare, the current political and legal battles over our existing health care system provide us the perfect opportunity to create a system that will stand the test of time. By ensuring that everyone in the U.S. has access to high-quality health care throughout their lives, including preventative services and consistent treatment for chronic illnesses, Americans will be able to live healthier and more fulfilling lives.
