10:52 p.m. ET, March 15, 2020
Fact check: Biden says Medicare for All wouldn't solve coronavirus "at all." Here's what we know.
From CNN's Tami Luhby
Asked whether he would order a national lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic, former Vice President Joe Biden took a swipe at Sen. Bernie Sanders’ "Medicare for All" proposal. He pointed to Italy, saying that its single-payer health care system hasn’t worked to stem the outbreak there.
“It has nothing to do with Medicare for All. That would not solve the problem at all,” Biden said at CNN’s Democratic Debate on tonight.
Facts first: This is partly true. As the experience of Italy and other countries shows, having universal coverage and a government-run health system is not enough on its own to stem the spread of coronavirus. But the US is at a disadvantage in fighting the coronavirus because tens of millions of Americans are uninsured or face high out-of-pocket costs before their insurance kicks in — which may make people hesitant to seek testing or treatment.
Health care experts in the US are concerned that coronavirus will spread more widely because ill Americans will avoid getting checked out because of the potential cost. Medicare for All calls for all Americans to have coverage with no out-of-pocket charges.
Nearly 28 million non-elderly people — or 10.4% — were uninsured in 2018, according to the US Census Bureau. And those who have insurance through their jobs still face annual deductibles of about $1,655, on average, before coverage kicks in, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Employer Health Benefits Survey.
"Addressing coronavirus with tens of millions of people without health insurance or with inadequate insurance will be a uniquely American challenge among developed countries," Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at Kaiser,
tweeted. "It will take money to treat people and address uncompensated care absorbed by providers."
But federal and state officials, as well as insurers, have stepped up to make sure that Americans can get the coronavirus test at no cost. Many insurers have said they will waive fees for certain members. Several states have also required insurers to waive the cost of the test for some policyholders.
The House bipartisan legislative package, which lawmakers passed in the early hours of Saturday morning, also calls for "free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured," Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to House Democrats.
President Trump has tweeted his support of the package. The Senate is expected to take up the measure when it returns to session this week.