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This bill — the Medicare for All Act — would provide individuals residing in the U.S. with healthcare for all “medically necessary care” under a single-payer healthcare system. Medically necessary care would include primary care, prevention, dietary and nutritional therapies, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services, and vision care. Patients would be able to choose to receive care from any qualified institution, agency, or individual.

Only public or nonprofit institutions would be allowed to participate. Health insurers would be prohibited from selling insurance that duplicates the benefits provided under this bill, but could sell benefits that aren’t medically necessary such as cosmetic surgery.

People currently enrolled in federal healthcare programs through the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) or the Indian Health Service would maintain their current medical benefits and services.

While this bill’s sponsor intends to raise taxes to cover the cost of this program, those provisions aren’t included within this legislation. Information about their proposed taxes can be found below.

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Medicare for All: Should the U.S. Adopt a Single-Payer Healthcare System?