Once again, Washington is hurtling toward a government shutdown over health-care policy. We’ve seen this movie before — and yet neither party has used the years since the Affordable Care Act to build durable, bipartisan reform.
Both parties share the blame. Republicans have worsened the situation by simultaneously cutting both Medicaid and premium tax credits while promoting short-term “junk” health plans that leave many families effectively uninsured.
The Biden Administration could have locked in the popular premium tax credit, but chose instead to pursue a $3.5 trillion spending package aimed at meeting progressive demands. That choice left crucial health-insurance supports temporary and vulnerable.
Meanwhile, progressive Democrats continue to push for a single-payer system without a credible transition plan — one that could make some households worse off and would hand future Congresses control over every aspect of the health-care system, guaranteeing new fiscal fights year after year.
The result is a stalemate that is leaving health-care outcomes worse and families more exposed. Persistent problems — loss of health insurance during job transitions, rising out-of-pocket costs, and shrinking access to high-quality coverage — remain unresolved.
With a shutdown looming over health care, we can’t keep replaying the same stalemates. Durable progress will likely require a viable third force in American politics. Increasingly, Democrats and Republicans can’t even get in the same room together.
Win-Win policy ideas — reforms that could improve and expand health-insurance coverage at little cost to taxpayers exist. Unfortunately, in today’s polarized environment, they are being ignored.
A new Kindle research paper The Third-Party Health Insurance Agenda, offers a way forward — practical steps like portable employer subsidies for exchange plans, smarter risk-sharing, hybrid public/private coverage for low-income families, and stronger consumer protections against junk plans and prior-authorization traps.
If you want to explore realistic, innovative solutions to improve U.S. health-care coverage and spark a more constructive debate, I invite you to read the full research paper on Kindle and share your thoughts.
Author’s note: The paper is part of a larger project on third-party policy positions. Your comments will help shape future chapters. The paper costs $2.99 and can be purchased through this link.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMJ1YSKB?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100