Democratic presidential candidates former Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speak during a Democratic presidential primary debate Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

NASHUA – As New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation (#FITN) presidential primary date of Feb. 11 draws ever closer, the key difference among the top Democratic contenders continues to be how to improve access to affordable health care.

On the side of increasing government spending by at least $20 trillion to fund a Medicare for All plan are Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

“We’re eliminating premiums; we’re eliminating copayments; we’re eliminating deductibles; we’re eliminating all out-of-pocket expenses. And, no family in America will spend more than $200 a year on prescription drugs,” Sanders vowed of his Medicare for All plan during a Los Angeles debate last week.

“The average worker in America, their family makes $60,000 a year. That family is now paying $12,000 a year for health care – 20% of their income. Under Medicare for All, that family will be paying $1,200 a year because we’re eliminating the profiteering of the drug companies and the insurance companies,” Sanders added.

For her part, Warren also continues pushing the single-payer health care strategy.

“We’re closing out the decade with a widening wealth gap and millions of families drowning in debt due to the costs of health care and higher education. In 2020, let’s fight for big, structural change to build an economy that works for everyone,” she stated via Twitter on Thursday.

“Medicare for All is the best way to give every single person in this country a guarantee of high-quality health care. Everybody is covered. Nobody goes broke because of a medical bill. No more fighting with insurance companies,” Warren adds on her website.

Firmly on the side opposite Medicare for All is national front-runner, former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware.

“Let’s be clear — Medicare for All not only ends private health coverage, it eliminates millions of jobs, and increases taxes on the middle class,” Biden tweeted on the same day as the debate in L.A.

During a heated discussion with Sanders on the debate stage, Biden asserted that Sanders and Warren really have no idea how much their ambitious plans will actually cost U.S. taxpayers.

“It costs $30 trillion over 10 years. Some say it costs $20 trillion. Some say it costs $40 trillion,” Biden said.

“The idea that you’re going to be able to save that person making $60,000 a year on Medicare for All is absolutely preposterous,” Biden added in reference to the aforementioned example by Sanders.

Biden proposes a public option expansion of the Affordable Care Act, which is more commonly known as Obamacare.

“Medicare if you want to have Medicare,” Biden said of his plan. “It covers everybody. It’s realistic, and, most importantly, it lets you choose what you want to have.”

Other Candidates On Health Care

For his part, Pete Buttigieg of Indiana promotes a $1.5 trillion plan that he calls “Medicare for All Who Want It.”

“The plan will automatically enroll individuals in affordable coverage if they are eligible for it, while those eligible for subsidized coverage will have a simple enrollment option,” his website states.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg – who owns a TV network and has an estimated net worth exceeding $50 billion – didn’t bother registering for the New Hampshire primary, but is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination by running in other states.

“All Americans deserve affordable health care, but that requires more than wishful thinking. Medicare For All is a proposal that is more likely to re-elect (President) Donald Trump than to expand coverage,” Bloomberg tweeted in voicing his opposition to a single-payer plan.

Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota’s health care plan seems similar to those espoused by Biden and Buttigieg, as she specifically mentions “public option” on her website.

“I think you can be progressive and practical at the same time. That is why I favor a public option, which is a nonprofit option, and yes it does bring the cost down immediately for 13 million people and then we’ll expand coverage to 12 million people,” Klobuchar tweeted.

Andrew Yang of New York said he supports the “spirit” of Medicare for All.

“It’s time to take a step back from enrollment mechanisms and creative accounting to focus on lowering costs and improving quality,” he states on his website.

Cory Booker of New Jersey states that he will, “Fight for Medicare for All,” and,“Implement universal paid family and medical leave.”

Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii states, “As president, I will work to ensure all Americans have that quality health care through a single-payer system that is incentivized to increase health and prevent and heal disease, whilst allowing individuals to access private insurance if they choose.”

Finally, billionaire Tom Steyer of California states he “will create a competitive public option to drive down costs, expand coverage, and deliver quality care to everyone who lives here, including the undocumented community.”

Current National Polls

As of Thursday, no new polling data exclusive to New Hampshire had been released in the past week.

Listed in the box above are the candidates as positioned in the national polls as compiled by Chicago-based Real Clear Politics.

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