Former Vice President Joe Biden (D) is still the front runner for the Democrats, and he’s taking advantage of this lead at the start of the week by revealing his health care plan.
In a video released detailing his thoughts on the plan, Vice President Biden shared that he does not agree with eliminating private health insurance and supporting a “Medicare-for-all" route.
Biden argues that he believes “we have to protect and build on Obamacare.” So, he’s proposing “adding a public option to Obamacare as the best way to lower cost and cover everyone.”
He also added that he “understands the appeal of Medicare-for-all, but folks supporting it should be clear that it means getting rid of Obamacare. And, I’m not for that.”
Furthermore, Biden asserts that “the Affordable Care Act was an historic achievement for President Obama, and if I’m elected president, I’m going to do everything in my power to protect it and build on it.”
The video further highlights the divide with the Democratic party and Democratic voters, targeting supporters of Medicare-for-all and calling on them to support the move.
What Biden is proposing would make available a government-sponsored health care plan that was entertained in the original 2010 law but ultimately not included.
It would be an optional plan, and it would be offered alongside private plans. In addition, the Biden campaign explained that Americans would be able to buy into the “Medicare-like” plan through exchanges that are set up in the current law.
In the video, Biden also expresses that he was very happy to see the legislation signed into law under the Obama administration, and he states that he is “surprised that so many Democrats are running on getting rid of it.”
A senior Biden campaign staff has informed that the plan would cost around $750 billion over a decade, and some aspects of the plan would also require congressional or administrative action.
