ICYMI: Dr. Abdul El-Sayed Publishes Guardian Op-Ed on Medicare For All Meeting the Moment 

ANN ARBOR, MI – Yesterday, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed published an op-ed in the Guardian arguing that Democrats can meet this moment by passing Medicare for All. As Republicans remain determined to tear down our already broken system, Democrats must stand up with a solution that offers Americans real change, Abdul argues. 

“At this breaking point, Democrats must meet the moment with a solution that matches the scale of the crisis: We can eliminate America’s staggering $225 billion in medical debt for pennies on the dollar. We did it for all of Wayne County when I was health director. And if Michigan’s largest county can do it–so can the rest of the country. But it’s not enough to erase debt–we have to protect Americans from accruing it in the first place. That means guaranteeing every American healthcare through Medicare for All,” Abdul writes.

A recent poll from Data for Progress shows a majority, 63% of voters, 78% of Dems and even 49% of Republicans support a Medicare for All system. This support remained strong even when respondents were presented with arguments from both sides. Supporters argued that the policy would ensure everyone can receive the care they need and save families money, and opponents argued that it would raise taxes and give the government too much control over health care.

As Health Director for Michigan’s largest and most diverse county, Abdul spearheaded a program that will cancel up to $700 million in medical debt for 300,000 Michiganders over two years. He authored Medicare for All: A Citizen’s Guide, which explains how to build a healthcare system that guarantees high-quality, affordable healthcare for every American. 

“When eight democratic senators caved in the face of mounting healthcare costs, it showed that the current iteration of the party isn’t as serious as the problems they claim to fight on,” the op-ed reads. “Mounting an offensive for expanding healthcare coverage, not just defending Republican attacks could spur the kind of attention and excitement that Democrats need heading into the midterms.”

“That’s what I’m doing here in Michigan. I’ve seen what functional government can do for real people. I’ve made it happen myself. Americans are sick of being screwed over by their own government. This is about building trust that Democrats have the vision and grit to actually deliver for Americans. And we gain that trust by delivering marked results. It’s not enough to continue to leave Americans with scraps and expect them to thank us. We need leaders who have the courage and vision to deliver the healthcare system we all deserve,” concludes Abdul. 

Read the full piece here.

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