By Chris Talgo | Commentary, Townhall
The Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) recently released “Workers Deserve More” program is full of silly policies that will probably never come to full fruition, fortunately. However, one of the more “mainstream” policies of the program, Medicare for All, absolutely could become the law of the land.
Medicare for All is popular because it drips empathy and means different things to people. There is no distinct definition. To some, it means a single-payer system. To others, it means providing subsidies to those who cannot afford healthcare.
Specifically, the DSA’s Medicare for All plan would “guarantee universal healthcare at no cost to individuals, including complete access to reproductive and gender-affirming care.”
Keep in mind, this is not the Medicare model because Medicare does not cover all healthcare costs.
According to the federal government’s Medicare website, “Medicare covers things like inpatient hospital care, doctors’ services and tests, and preventive services.”
It does not cover “eye exams,” “long-term care,” “cosmetic surgery,” “massage therapy,” “routine physical exams,” “hearing aids and exams for fitting them,” “Concierge care (also called concierge medicine, retainer-based medicine, boutique medicine, platinum practice, or direct care),” and “most dental care.”
In 2025, 87 percent of Medicare recipients purchased “supplemental coverage” like Medigap and Medicare Advantage to cover prescription drugs and several services.
So, when DSA candidates refer to Medicare for All as universal healthcare, they are not honest.
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