The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) held a shadow hearing on Medicare for All on Wednesday, led by Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell. The hearing comes as over half of the House Democratic caucus has co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation.
Key Support and Opposition
National Nurses United, the largest union of nurses in the US, testified in support of Medicare for All, along with Public Citizen, Physicians for a National Health Plan, People’s Action Institute and other supporters. A study by Yale epidemiologists in 2020 found Medicare for All would save about 68,000 lives a year and reduce US healthcare spending by about 13%, or $450bn.
“I do not exaggerate when I say our healthcare system is in dire straits. Every day in my clinic, I see patients struggling with the cost of healthcare,” said Dr Diljeet K Singh, president of Physicians for a National Health Plan. “At least 35 cents of every healthcare dollar is wasted on insurance administration and corporate profit, not spent on patient care.”
Republican Cuts and Democratic Response
Republicans recently passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes nearly $1tn in cuts to Medicaid and allows Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire. Senator Andy Kim introduced legislation on Tuesday that would enroll all children into Medicare until age 26.
“I’m going to get this over the finish line before I die, and I don’t plan on dying soon. But I’d like to get it done,” Dingell said, citing her father-in-law, John D Dingell Sr, who drafted universal healthcare legislation that laid the foundation for Medicare.
“We spend twice as much per person on healthcare compared to other countries that have systems like Medicare for All, and we still have 28 million Americans without insurance, and an increase in the number of people uninsured since 2023,” she said. “We have worse outcomes, including low life expectancy and higher infant mortality rates. The only people benefiting are the corporations who are profiting while Americans are struggling.”
Testimony from Healthcare Workers
Jamie Brown RN, president of National Nurses United, described the impact of healthcare employers prioritizing profits over care, resulting in understaffed units and high patient loads. “The only way to transform our system for the better is to ensure that the profit motive is completely removed from the equation,” said Brown.
Congressman Greg Casar cited multimillion-dollar salaries of healthcare CEOs and millions spent on lobbying. “Healthcare should not be a privilege determined by your job, your income, or your zip code. Yet millions of Americans continue to delay or forgo care because they simply cannot afford it,” said Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García.
Public Opinion and Think Tank Views
The center-left Searchlight Institute urged Democrats to refrain from supporting Medicare for All, citing a June poll by Tavern Research that found a majority or plurality support single payer, but 70% preferred to keep current insurance. A November poll by Medicare for All Pac found 52% favored a Democratic candidate supporting the policy over 45% for a Republican candidate supporting standard Republican healthcare policy.
Conclusion
Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury cited the $37.5bn cost of the Trump administration’s war on Iran. “There is no person that should die because they’re afraid to go to the emergency room. Healthcare is a human right,” she said.
Jayapal concluded: “I think this is the moment where the current system has collapsed under the weight of for-profit insurance companies. It is going to be a fight to get there. But I believe the American people across party line are with us, and are looking for transformative system where everyone is in and nobody is out, and healthcare is truly a human right.”
