'Universal health care has always been my north star': Eshoo to support expanded Medicare

Apr. 29—SANTA CRUZ — Last week, Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sherrod Brown of Ohio reintroduced the Medicare at 50 Act to their colleagues in the Senate. When a companion bill arrives in the House of Representatives, Rep. Anna

said she will support it.

"When it comes to providing affordable health care for every American, there is more we must do right now to change the status quo, improve our health care system and lower costs," Baldwin said upon the announcement of the bill. "Our legislation will give millions of Americans another choice for more affordable, quality health insurance coverage."

Medicare for 50, which would self-explanatorily allow for the expansion of Medicare benefits to those aged 50 to 64, has found form in a bill in almost every single Congress in Eshoo's tenure, she told the Sentinel this week.

In 2019, it was introduced to the Senate twice as Senate Bill 470. Cosponsors such as now-Vice President Kamala Harris looked to push it along; Congress's bill tracker shows no action after a referral to the Committee on Finance. When a bill doesn't pass, it dies at the end of a two-year session, requiring a reintroduction like that of the three representatives, Eshoo clarified.

"It's not a brand new idea, it's an idea that never gained enough legs to make it through," she said. "Let me put it this way, positively: There would be broad support amongst Democrats, probably to. a lesser degree on the part of Republicans ... but there's not a proposal coming up for a vote where I could give you a better gauge of how many votes there are on each side of the aisle."

Eshoo foreshadowed the likely future action of New York Rep. Sean Maloney introducing the House's version of Medicare At 50. When that happens, she will be as outspoken as ever to move forward a policy she has been in favor of as early as her first term in Congress during the Clinton administration.

"It really represents a wonderful opportunity for people to buy-in. I think it would really help to get us universal coverage in the country," she said.

Eshoo said she believes this would benefit her constituents in the age group. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Medicare Enrollment Dashboard showed that as of approximately one year ago, more than 50,000 residents of Santa Cruz County benefitted from original Medicare or Medicare Advantage and other health plans. Nearly 39,000 residents relied on original prescription drug plans or Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans. This represents approximately 18% and 14% of the county's total population, respectively.

As she continues to gather opinions and share her stance with those she serves, Kaiser Family Foundation data shows that 77% of the general public support giving people in the age group the option to buy in.

"Medicare is a trusted program in this country. It has deep support by independents, Republicans and Democrats," Eshoo said. "There are millions that would enroll."

Eshoo added that the bill is bolstered by President Joe Biden, who ran on the platform of Medicare for those 50 to 65.

"Others called it Medicare for All," she said. "There were competing policy ideas. But this was, front and center, his. That moves it up many notches... we've also expanded the ACA and in many cases dropped the premium to zero so that people can enroll."

Pioneering in health care policy will continue to be one of Eshoo's driving forces in 2021.

"My north star has always been, since my service on the Board of Supervisors in San Mateo County, universal health care. I've spent 85% of my legislature time on health care. This would be a major step toward that goal. Major."

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