It is amazing how far the media goes to exclude proposals for a universal Medicare type system from public debate. Yesterday, in an article reporting on a Democratic presidential candidate forum, the Post told readers that "Edwards was the only candidate who came to the forum having put forth a specific plan for universal coverage and said it would cost $90 billion to $120 billion a year." This is not true. Representative Dennis Kucinich has put forward a detailed plan for a universal Medicare system that has been introduced as a bill in prior sessions of Congress. This can be verified by a quick look at Mr. Kucinich's wesbite. I know that Kucinich is not considered a major candidate, but he was at the forum and article did mention him. Since Kucinich has been proposing a universal Medicare system since at least his last presidential run in 2004, and has actually introduced legislation in Congress that would establish such a system, any reporter covering this issue should at least know that he has a specific plan for universal coverage. On the topic of "single-payer," the NYT coverage of this forum also left me confused. It reported that, "another candidate, former Senator Mike Gravel of Alaska, called for 'a universal single-payer plan.' He said he would give people vouchers, which could be used to pay doctors and hospitals, and a choice of five or six health plans." I'm not quite sure how you have a "single-payer" system with five or six plans.
--Dean Baker
