Arthur C. Donart, Ph. D., submitted this essay.
Much attention has been focused on the cost of health care insurance. Why? Because the Republican Party PASSED President Trump’s “Big beautiful bill,”–which continued big tax breaks for the wealthy, which were to expire in January 2026. To partially offset the cost for this generosity, Republicans cut the funding for Medicaid by a substantial amount, knowing that the COVID-era level of funding was also expiring on January 1.
The Trump bill passed without a single Democratic vote and was signed by Mr. Trump with great ceremony. The Democrats took the position that, if the GOP could keep the tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% from expiring, they ALSO should keep the COVID-era subsidies for Medicaid from expiring. Hence the longest Government shutdown in our history!
Both sides had valid arguments. The GOP argued that what is now known as Obamacare has driven the cost of healthcare up. Pouring more money into it just makes the cost go higher yet.
• Critic David Hanson cited fraud by people of Samali ancestry, as a reason Medicare for All wouldn’t work.
• The Hope, Florida scandal involves Florida Governor Ron De Santis’s wife.
• Florida’s U. S. Senator Rick Scott was the C.E.O. of Hospital Corporation. It was entangled in a Medicare and Medicaid fraud, which cost the company 1.7 billion dollars.
Those people are not of Samali ancestry!
The December 20, 2025, issue of the Washington Post carried an article about Medicaid fraud: “How Brokers Gamed the ACA Marketplace, Roiling Subsidy Debate in Congress,” by Paige Winfield Cunningham. The Biden Administration suspended 850 brokers. Yet CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz has yet to crack down on the abuse. It seems to me, that dishonesty has nothing to do with ancestry, and more to do with greed. Still, the GOP has an excellent point. So why did they allow the destruction of those provisions to stop the cheating?
The Democrats did oppose the firing of Inspectors General and reduction in IRS employees, designed to stop fraud. Their argument is that reforms can be put into place while funding Medicaid, so that people can still afford health insurance. They are probably right. However, their best solution is Medicare for All.
There have been a number of studies concerning the cost of providing healthcare for all our residents, without the problems of being in-network or out-of-network. No waiting for company approval. No loss of coverage due to lack of employment.
One study was financed by billionaires Charles and David Kock, founders of “Americans for Prosperity.” The study was done by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. If you ignore the headline and read the study, you will find their conclusion is Medicare for All would save taxpayers $2 trillion dollars over a ten year period.
Another study done at M.I.T. concluded that the savings would be 10% to 12% per year, for the first five years. Not determined is how much of a reduction in real estate tax people would see. Most local Governments and School Districts provide their employees with health insurance. Taking health costs out of their budgets would lower employees’ property tax rates.
This would be a good step in solving the affordability problem. There is no out-of-pocket cost. Dental, mental health, and nursing home care is covered.
Continuing with a for-profit healthcare is a comedy. It simply will not meet our needs.
The acceptance of healthcare as a human right will put the emphasis on maintaining good health.