According to an estimate released by the libertarian-leaning Mercatus Center at Medicare , the Medicare -for-all bill put forward by Sen. Sanders would increase federal spending by $32 trillion over the next 10 years . This is the same figure as presented by the left-leaning Urban Institute in 2016 and has been leapt on as proof that the idea cannot be considered. However, there are some that find the most recent report a boost to the Medicare for All cause. Chief amongst these is Ernie Tedeschi , a former economist at the Treasury Department , who argues that the analysis shows Medicare for All will reduce national health expenditures by $2 trillion over the same 10-year period. Which analysis is to be believed is dependent on whether attention to be paid to federal spending or overall US expenditure. The Mercatus report illustrates that government share of health spending would double from 45 percent to 45 percent , with the resultant figure being $5.3 trillion . However, the alternative argument is that this merely shows a shift from private to public funding, with health care spending set to fall over the 10 years . Current projections have health care costs in 2016 as $59.7 trillion , but the Mercatus Center report says they would fall to $57.6 trillion under Medicare for All. Broader health benefits for Americans would include dental, vision and hearing care, including for those who are currently uninsured. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. At the same time deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and other cost-sharing bills would be eliminated. The argument against these changes is that they would result in a rise in unnecessary care, but conversely it would bring care to the unhealthy before their illnesses became chronic and costlier when treatment is eventually sought. The primary costs saved under Medicare for All would include $5.3 trillion through the reduction of physician and hospital reimbursements to Medicare levels, $846 billion on drug costs from negotiations with drug companies, and $1.57 trillion from administrative costs.
According to an estimate released by the libertarian-leaning Mercatus Center at Medicare , the Medicare -for-all bill put forward by Sen. Sanders would increase federal spending by $32 trillion over the next 10 years . This is the same figure as presented by the left-leaning Urban Institute in 2016 and has been leapt on as proof that the idea cannot be considered. However, there are some that find the most recent report a boost to the Medicare for All cause. Chief amongst these is Ernie Tedeschi , a former economist at the Treasury Department , who argues that the analysis shows Medicare for All will reduce national health expenditures by $2 trillion over the same 10-year period. Which analysis is to be believed is dependent on whether attention to be paid to federal spending or overall US expenditure. The Mercatus report illustrates that government share of health spending would double from 45 percent to 45 percent , with the resultant figure being $5.3 trillion . However, the alternative argument is that this merely shows a shift from private to public funding, with health care spending set to fall over the 10 years . Current projections have health care costs in 2016 as $59.7 trillion , but the Mercatus Center report says they would fall to $57.6 trillion under Medicare for All. Broader health benefits for Americans would include dental, vision and hearing care, including for those who are currently uninsured. At the same time deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and other cost-sharing bills would be eliminated. The argument against these changes is that they would result in a rise in unnecessary care, but conversely it would bring care to the unhealthy before their illnesses became chronic and costlier when treatment is eventually sought. The primary costs saved under Medicare for All would include $5.3 trillion through the reduction of physician and hospital reimbursements to Medicare levels, $846 billion on drug costs from negotiations with drug companies, and $1.57 trillion from administrative costs.