Medicare works because its core principles are founded on access, care and community.
Access
- Medicare makes health care available and accessible to older people and those with disabilities, and it provides a model for public health care.
- All Americans should have access to health care benefits and prescription drugs.
Care
- Caring for older people and those with disabilities is an American value.
- Medicare eases financial and emotional stress on families and beneficiaries and makes a difference in people’s lives.
Community
- Accessible health care such as Medicare leads people to live healthy lives, and that translates into stronger communities.
- Medicare supports strong communities by assuring access to vital services like health care and prescription drug coverage.
It seems hard to believe to us, but there is actually a debate going on about whether health care reform should include a public plan option – as opposed to only private insurance plans.
Any reasonable approach to health care reform must include, at the very least, a public option.
Read our Indispensable Dozen to find out what a public plan could look like and what elements are essential to a successful public plan.
