Joe Biden, one of the many current presidential contenders, vaguely announced his plans for universal healthcare during a speech at the Poor People’s Campaign Presidential Forum in Washington D.C.
“I think that everyone’s entitled to have total health care. And what I would do is make sure that every single person…in the United States has access to Medicaid right off the bat,” Biden said.
https://youtu.be/q8ZgbuQ7PuE
With 79 percent of the electorate unhappy with the total cost of healthcare in the United States, it should come as no surprise that addressing healthcare is important in the 2020 presidential race. Interestingly, Americans are interested in the federal government supplying healthcare but are split at a 50 percent approval, 48 percent disapproval rating on Obamacare.
According to the Gallup poll, the electorate wants universal healthcare, but not the current system set in place. There have been universal healthcare plans suggested in the past. Bernie Sanders, and those radical enough to support his healthcare plans have taken this to the extreme by calling to abolish private health insurance companies altogether.
Although Biden’s plan for universal healthcare is vague, he currently claims he does not want to abolish private health insurance. Based on his previous voting record and tendency to flip flop, that may not be entirely true.
Not only was Biden apart of the administration that created the disastrous Affordable Care Act, but he also has a voting record that reflects a socialist healthcare agenda.
In 1998, Biden voted against an amendment that gave seniors the right to choose their health care provider and physicians on a private, contractual basis for Medicare-covered services without penalty.
In 2000, Biden voted against an amendment that would help to bar insurance agencies from denying coverage or adjusting premiums based on a patient’s “predictive genetic information.” The amendment also wanted to provide citizens with access to specialists and doctors out of their network.
Biden actively voted against citizens being able to pick and choose their own specialists and doctors. He voted to deny patients low premiums because they may be at risk for a health condition based on their genetics. With this voting record, it is clear that Biden has been anti-choice when it comes to choosing healthcare providers. Especially when it means allowing citizens to find private healthcare.
With the voting record exemplified above, it would come as no shock if, in the coming months, Biden decided to come out as anti-private healthcare insurance.
