WA8 Race: Schrier Proposes Medicare-For-All Option

ISSAQUAH, WA - One of the leading Democratic candidates competing in the 8th Congressional District race rolled out a major healthcare policy proposal on Tuesday. Dr. Kim Schrier, a pediatrician, wants to make Medicare a public option for anyone as a way to achieve universal healthcare coverage.

Medicare is one of the most popular federal programs, but is only open to those over age 65 and some people with certain disabilities. Schrier's plan would allow anyone to sign up for Medicare via a state healthcare exchange.

Schrier's plan would not provide free healthcare for all, similar to healthcare systems in places like Canada and the United Kingdom. Schrier says that she supports a healthcare system like what Canada has, but does not think it's politically feasible.

"We don't have time to wait for a president who will sign that," she told Patch. "I'm proposing a solution that should have broad bipartisan appeal."

Schrier's proposal is closer to the centrist Democratic idea of Medicare-for-all. She formed her plan in consultation with former Obama administration officials, and the plan is similar to one proposed last year by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

Further to the left. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders last fall proposed a Medicare-for-all plan that would allow you to go to the doctor for free - no co-pays or deductibles. The Democratic Socialists of America is campaigning for a similar plan in the Seattle area and nationwide.

Schrier runs a Virginia Mason pediatric practice in Issaquah. She has made healthcare the centerpiece of her primary campaign, frequently describing how she has witnessed the failure of the current healthcare system. Schrier was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a teenager. In describing her Medicare policy, she mentioned a woman her same age who was also diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager. That woman, however, never had access to healthcare through an employer as Schrier did. That woman is now in end-stage renal failure.

"Overall, not only is that devastating and inhumane, it's whole lot more expensive to take care of her than me," she said. "This is the huge shortfall this country has. We do everything in the most backward, expensive way."

Her plan would work alongside employer-based healthcare system as a public option. The Medicare option would also compete on the open market alongside private health insurance, Schrier said. That competition would hopefully bring down costs of all insurance plans.

Jason Rittereiser, a former King County prosecutor, is competing against Schrier for the 8th Congressional District seat. In May, he criticized Schrier in an open forum because her pediatric practice does not accept certain health plans for low-income people. But that's because Virginia Mason does not have contracts with those providers.

That would not happen with a Medicare public option, Schrier said. Hospital systems like Virginia Mason would lose too much not to contract with Medicare.

"It's no advantage to a hospital to not take these plans," she said.

Schrier's plan was unveiled for the first time Tuesday morning - but she said she's been talking about it with residents of the 8th District as she goes door-to-door. She hasn't encountered anyone opposed to the plan. Getting the plan approved (if Schrier gets elected) would depend on voters pressuring Republican and Democratic representatives - and President Donald Trump.

"If we can show this has broad bipartisan support, the political futures of people in Congress will depend on this passing," she said.

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