Article: Government health care is overtaking private coverage

[onetexan]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/government-health-care-is-overtaking-private-coverage-203154141.html

A surge in Medicaid enrollment during the coronavirus pandemic is pushing the United States near a momentous tipping point: More people getting health care coverage through a government plan than through the private sector.

Here’s the math. A record 80.5 million Americans now get health coverage through Medicaid and a related program for children. Another 64 million are Medicare enrollees. The Affordable Care Act covers about 13 million Americans, the Pentagon’s Tricare system 9.6 million, and the Veterans Administration another 9 million. There are some duplicates, such as 11 million people who get both Medicaid and Medicare, and others who have coverage through the military as well as another plan. At a minimum, about 150 million Americans get coverage through a government plan, and the number could be several million higher.

Private-sector companies covered 158 million Americans in 2019, but job losses during the coronavirus pandemic probably cut that to around 153 million, including dependents. So the number of people covered through a company plan is very close to those covered by the government. Another 5 million or so buy private coverage on their own, with no government aid, but new federal subsidies in this part of the market will probably cut that number, too...

More government health care seems to be fine with voters. A recent Morning Consult poll found that 68% of respondents favor Biden’s public option, which, notably, leaves private insurance in place. Voters generally want new programs only if they’ll offer new benefits without taking away existing ones. Though nobody planned it that way, that’s how government-sponsored health care has evolved during the last 20 years or so.
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All thanks to our great POTUS!!
Our young adult kids who work for smaller firms are on Obamacare. Long as they leave that in place i'm good

[lagomorph777]

1. Thanks to our current POTUS and his former boss.

Eventually, the single-payer debate will become essentially irrelevant. I will be going on gov't health care in a few years myself. Looking forward to it; my employer has really cut back.

[onetexan]

4. I recall in early 90s when i started my career @a major company healthcare was free

In the succeeding decades it increased significantly. We are on the hubby's healthplan w his job, which works out well for us, at least for now. My current company's plan is ridiculously high.

[GregariousGroundhog]

2. I don't know if I would call the ACA government healthcare

Consumers sign up in a government portal and may receive government subsidies, but the plans are designed (within certain limits) and managed by the private sector. It's probably more fair to call it a hybrid system.

The ACA has a couple flaws and/or opportunities for improvement, but it was an excellent first attempt at reducing the number of people without insurance.

[onetexan]

3. Agree. well said!